Sarah Ferguson has vanished from the public eye after the release of Jeffrey Epstein files that include messages from her to the convicted sex offender, according to multiple reports. The documents, part of a trove of evidence from a lawsuit against Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, show Ferguson praising Epstein as the brother she 'always wished for'. Another message, sent after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, references her daughter Eugenie's 'shagging weekend'. Ferguson also appeared to plead with Epstein to marry her, describing him as a 'legend' and saying 'I am at your service'. Being included in the files is no indication of wrongdoing, but the revelations have triggered calls for Ferguson to speak to US authorities.
Martin Barrantes, Ferguson's cousin by marriage, told the Daily Express that Ferguson wants to protect her children and grandchildren. According to the Daily Express, Barrantes spoke to Ferguson three months ago and said she is going through a 'difficult moment' but seemed 'in good spirits'. He urged the public to remember the 'real villain' is Jeffrey Epstein. The family member's defense comes as Ferguson's reputation has plummeted since appearing in the Epstein files, according to multiple reports.
I have spoken to her [and] can tell you that she just wants to protect her children and her grandchildren.
Ferguson has kept a very low profile over recent months. She was photographed in Austria this week staying at a £2,000-a-night chalet, according to major media reports. However, it is not known where she is currently staying, as other reports contradict this. Ferguson has spent time abroad, staying with friends and checking into the £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich after Christmas. She was last seen in public at the christening of her granddaughter Athena.
Brand expert Nick Ede told the Daily Express that Ferguson's brand is 'ruined' and she has no chance to redeem herself in the public eye. According to the Daily Express, Ede described that Ferguson may be asked by a major platform to reveal her true story and be paid well for it, but the majority of the general public has totally turned against her, and so has the media. The damage to her reputation has been severe, with her name and brand tarnished beyond repair, Ede said.
Fergie doesn’t really have any chance to redeem herself in the public eye. She has had her name and her brand ruined and tarnished, so I don’t feel there is any coming back from this.
Ferguson lost the title she retained as a courtesy after her divorce from Prince Andrew. Andrew was stripped of his titles by King Charles due to 'serious lapses of judgment' over his friendship with Epstein. Andrew has denied all wrongdoing and was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February, later released under investigation, not charged. The consequences for the royal family have been significant, with both Ferguson and Andrew facing public scrutiny.
When Ferguson returns to the UK, she won't be living in Norfolk with her ex-husband Andrew, according to multiple reports. Ferguson is part owner of a large ranch in Argentina where her mother lived, according to Martin Barrantes. Her financial situation and future living arrangements remain unclear, as she has been staying abroad and at clinics.
She may be asked by a major platform to reveal her true story and, in doing so, be paid well for it, but the majority of the general public has totally turned against her, and so has the media.
Several unknowns remain about Ferguson's situation. The exact nature of her relationship with Epstein is not fully understood, and it is unclear whether she will face any legal consequences from the files. Her current whereabouts are disputed, with some reports placing her in Austria and others stating her location is unknown. Whether she will ever return to the UK permanently is also uncertain.