The messages between Ferguson and Epstein almost seem like he’s talking about someone on his payroll, such as asking her to show business contacts round Buckingham Palace – and her daughters get included too.
In a message to “Ferg” in March 2010, Epstein writes: “Thank you Sarah, could you are (sic) one of your daughters show (redacted) buckingham thanks.”
An apparent reply from “Sarah” reads: “Of course.”
That July, referring to a separate occasion, she apparently writes to Epstein apologising that “the girls were not around this weekend”.
“Shows I don’t crack the whip when I am not in the country!,” the message continues. “Actually eugie was in france and beatrice was out with dave.”
Epstein also messages to say a friend will be in London, adding: “Any chance of your daughters saying hello.”
As more emails emerge, there’s a growing impression of how much Ferguson seemed to depend on Epstein, telling him he was her “pillar” and confiding “I have been so so sad”.
Some of the emails date from when Epstein was still serving a sentence for soliciting sex from a minor, according to the documents. He was released from prison on 22 July 2009 after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence.
There are emails in the files from that June and earlier in the July from “Sarah”.
An email from August the following year reads: “I am feeling very traumatised and alone. I am wanting to work for you at organising your houses.”
The next month she appears to ask “when are you going to employ me”, and the same day “phew.. you still love me”.
Referring to her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Ferguson seems to write later in 2010: “So you have not forgotten about me. I do know that my handsome Prince is a saint.. And you worship him, I do too.
“But then I did marry him. And still love him.”
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently and strenuously always denied any wrongdoing and his office has been contacted for comment on the release of the files.