Newly Unsealed Emails Reveal Sarah Ferguson's Congratulatory Note to Epstein on 'Baby Boy', Raising Questions of Secret Heir

Among the millions of pages from the Jeffrey Epstein case made public this week, a personal email from Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has ignited new speculation: did the disgraced financier father a secret child?

The message, sent in 2009 shortly after Epstein's release from his first prison stint, offers "love, friendship and congratulations on your baby boy." Ferguson indicated she heard the news from "The Duke," widely understood to be a reference to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.

This revelation directly challenges the long-held public narrative that Epstein, who allegedly abused hundreds of women and girls, died without any known descendants. The email is part of a trove of over three million documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, which also includes images, videos, and correspondence detailing the extensive social network of the convicted pedophile.

The files show Ferguson's relationship with Epstein soured shortly after the congratulatory note. In a follow-up email sent in 2011, she accused him of using her to gain access to Prince Andrew and expressed hurt over his disappearance. "It was sooooo crystal clear to me that you were only friends with me to get to Andrew," she wrote.

Furthermore, the documents contradict Prince Andrew's previous assertions that he cut ties with Epstein around 2010. Evidence suggests their association continued until at least 2017. The latest tranche also includes a photograph of the Duke kneeling over an unidentified woman and records of Epstein offering to introduce him to a young Russian woman.

The question of an heir has significant financial and legal implications. Epstein's last will and testament, amended just days before his 2019 death, bequeathed the majority of his vast estate—including his notorious private island—to his former girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak. Over 130 individuals have previously come forward claiming to be Epstein's offspring, with a dedicated DNA testing service established to handle inquiries. Harvey Morse, a genealogist, stated in 2020 that it was a "reasonable chance" Epstein had fathered a child and could even have grandchildren.

While the Justice Department cautions that the released files contain unverified and "sensationalist" claims, the inclusion of Ferguson's email adds a credible, contemporaneous layer to the mystery. It places a high-profile figure at the center of the rumor and suggests the possibility was discussed within Epstein's inner circle.

Reader Reactions:

David Chen, Legal Analyst: "This isn't just tabloid fodder. If substantiated, a biological child could upend the entire estate proceedings and launch a new wave of litigation. The email from a duchess gives the claim a provenance that previous rumors lacked."

Marcus Thorne, Political Commentator: "The real story here is the continued erosion of the royal family's credibility. Each document dump further implicates Prince Andrew and reveals how deeply compromised figures were welcomed into the highest echelons. The institution's refusal to fully address this is a festering wound."

Rebecca Lloyd, London-based Teacher: "It's stomach-churning. Every new detail about this man's life and connections is worse than the last. The idea that he might have brought a child into this world, while destroying so many others, is a horrific thought. When does it end?"

Priya Sharma, Historian: "This saga is a defining scandal of early 21st-century power dynamics. It meticulously documents how wealth and titles created a shield of impunity, allowing predators to operate in plain sight. These files will be studied for decades."