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By Marni Rose McFall
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A number of high-profile members of European royal families, politicians and other elites have been named in the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s latest release of documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Justice Department released over 3 million pages of material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November on Friday. This batch included some 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, Newsweek previously reported.
Appearing in released documents is not an indication of wrongdoing.
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Newsweek reached out to representatives for the individuals mentioned in this article for comment.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson
The former Prince, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, and the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, were both mentioned in the recently released files.
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The recent mentions have already made headlines. This includes a photograph which appears to show Mountbatten-Windsor crouched on all fours over a woman lying on the floor. The woman’s face is redacted, and she is lying on her back. In one of the images, he appears to have his hand on her abdomen.
The image is undated, has no caption and does not indicate wrongdoing.
In another email, shortly after the end of Epstein’s house arrest in August of 2010, he appeared to exchange emails with Epstein about a “beautiful” Russian woman.
Email exchanges between Ferguson and Epstein have also been detailed. These exchanges were all dated after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution.
"I have never been more touched by a friends [sic] kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls.
"Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for."
The following year, she wrote in a further email, "You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness."
"Xx I am at your service . Just marry me," another email read.
Ferguson has previously said that she abhors “Paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.”
Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing. As of reporting, he has not directly commented on this specific release of files.
In October, Buckingham Palace released a statement from Andrew where he voluntarily said he was giving up the use of his Duke of York title, alongside a number of others.
He said at the time, “I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."
Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit
The recently released files appear to include nearly 1,000 mentions of Norway’s princess, Mette-Marit.
The files include a significant amount of emails that suggest that she and Epstein were in contact from 2011 to 2014, as per a report from the Norwegian daily VG. Mette married the future king of Norway, Crown Prince Haakon, in 2001.
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The emails appeared to show Mette-Marit telling Epstein, “You tickle my brain,” and calling him “soft hearted” and a “sweetheart,” in others.
Weeks earlier, Mette-Marit had asked Epstein if it was “inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old sons wallpaper?”
She and Epstein had also traded emails about him being on a “wife hunt” in Paris. She said that the French capital was “good for adultery” and said that “Scandis (are) better wife material”.
These revelations come as Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, is set to go on trial for rape. That trial is due to begin on Tuesday.
He was born out of a relationship before Mette-Marit married the Crown Prince Haakon.
A representative for Norway’s royal family said in a statement shared with Newsweek over email, “Jeffrey Epstein is solely responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was. I deeply regret this, and it is a responsibility I must bear.
“I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing. I wish to express my deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuse committed by Jeffrey Epstein.”
Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson, the 72-year-old British peer who had served as the U.K.'s ambassador to the U.S., was also mentioned in the files.
Mandelson’s surname is referenced over 5,000 times in documents on the U.S. Department of Justice website. In one email, he referred to Epstein as his “chief life adviser.”
The two appeared to discuss tax favours at Epstein’s request. Mandelson said in 2009, “Trying hard to amend as I explained to Jes last night. Treasury digging in but I am on case.” At the time, Mandelson was the business secretary for then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
In another email, sent in 2011, Mandelson said he was “In j'burg sitting on a hotel deck surrounded by lots of loud pretty women of your persuasion, no fun in sight.”
It has also been alleged that Mandelson had shared potentially sensitive government documents. Other documents suggest that Epstein made payments to Mandelson of $75,000, which Mandelson has said he has no record of.
Mandelson has resigned from Britain’s Labour Party following the release of these emails in order to avoid “further embarrassment.” His resignation letter reads in part, “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this. Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.
"While doing this, I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party."
Miroslav Lajčák
Miroslav Lajčák, the national security advisor to Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, was mentioned in the documents.
These documents showed that he had messaged with Epstein about girls and diplomacy. It has since been announced that he has resigned his position.
A text exchange from October 2018—Lajčák served as Slovakia’s foreign minister at the time—showed him and Epstein discussing women. Epstein shared a photo that was not visible in the record. Lajčák replied, “Why don't you invite me for these games? I would take the 'MI' girl."
"Who wouldn't," Epstein replied. "You can have them both, I am not possessive. And their sisters."
Lajčák’s departure from government was announced by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday. He announced the departure in a video statement shared on Facebook, in which he said that Slovakia was losing “an incredible source of experience in diplomacy and foreign policy.”
Lajčák has denied wrongdoing and said the communications were informal and light-hearted, according to reports in Slovak media. He was quoted as saying that he resigned “Not because I did anything criminal or unethical, but so that he [The Prime Minister] does not bear political costs for something unrelated to his decisions.”
Princess Sofia of Sweden
Princess Sofia of Sweden was mentioned in the files, with the Swedish Royal Court having confirmed that she had a limited historical contact in connection with Epstein.
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In the recently released files, an image of her is shared where Epstein referred to her as “Our Sofia.” That email read, “Soon Princess Sofia… the whole Swedish press is looking for her… while she is in Africa!”
That email appears to have been sent in 2010, when the Princess was still Sofia Hellqvist, five years before she married Prince Carl Philip.
Princess Sofia was also mentioned in a December release of files.
A representative for the Royal Court of Sweden said in an email to Newsweek, "Princess Sofia recalls meeting Mr Epstein on a few occasions around 20 years ago, many years before the Princess became a member of the Royal Family. We wish to clarify that the meetings in question took place in social settings, such as at a restaurant and a movie premiere."
"We are aware that the Princess’ name (misspelled) is reported to have been found in a document from a premiere in 2012. However, the Princess does not know how her name has ended up on this list. Her Royal Highness was in Sweden at the time and had – as stated above – not met Mr Epstein for several years."
Update 02/03/26, 11:34 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from a representative of the Royal Court of Sweden.
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