Epstein files latest: 'Just marry me' - email believed to be from Sarah Ferguson shows message to disgraced financier

Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive UK government tax plans to Jeffrey Epstein when he was business secretary, emails appear to show.

The confidential document, released by the US Department of Justice as part of millions of files relating to Epstein, was written by Nick Butler, a special adviser to Gordon Brown, the prime minister at the time.

Mandelson forwarded the memo to Epstein in 2009, captioning it: "Interesting note that's gone to the PM."

The revelation will add to the pressure on the former British ambassador to Washington, who resigned his membership from the Labour Party yesterday.

Lord Mandelson has been approached for comment.

On his relationship with Epstein he has previously said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."

Butler told Paste BN: "I don't have any comment beyond being shocked by the betrayal of trust involved."

An email in the latest tranche of Epstein files suggests Lord Mandelson gave Jeffrey Epstein advanced notice of a €500bn EU bank bailout in 2010.

Mandelson, then the UK's business secretary, was emailed by Epstein who wrote: "Sources tell me 500 b euro bailout , almost compelte (sic)."

Lord Mandelson then appears to have responded: "Sd be announced tonight"

Epstein then asked if he was home, to which Mandelson replied: "Just leaving No10... will call".

The €500bn deal was approved the next day by European governments as they tried to pull the currency through the 2010 "Eurozone" crisis - where countries such as Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Cyprus were unable to repay or refinance their government debt.

The UK did not contribute to the bailout.

However, the then-chancellor Alistair Darling was present in Brussels for the negotiations.

Paste BN has approached representatives for Lord Mandelson for comment on these claims.

In a statement about previous allegations, he said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."

Responding to claims that Lord Mandelson leaked confidential and privileged information while he served as business secretary during Gordon Brown’s premiership, Brown said: "I have today asked the Cabinet Secretary to investigate the disclosure of confidential and market sensitive information from the then Business Department during the global financial crisis."

Lord Mandelson sent Jeffrey Epstein an email saying he "finally got him to go", the day before Gordon Brown resigned as prime minister.

The email was sent from Mandelson to Epstein on 10 May 2010.

He does not name the person he is referring to and there has been no confirmation of what the email is about, however it came one day before Brown announced his resignation as Labour Party head and leader of the UK.

Mandelson, who resigned his Labour Party membership today over his links to Epstein, was business secretary in Brown's cabinet at the time the email was sent.

Epstein replies saying: "I have faith, the value of some chapters in your book should now increase." 

Mandelson then makes reference to secret tunnels linking Number 10 and the Ministry of Defence.

It seemed inevitable there would be more damaging documents in the latest batch of the Epstein files relating to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. 

Neither the former prince, nor the wider Royal Family, have responded to this most recent tranche, in which Andrew is pictured on all fours, leaning over an unidentified woman. 

In a statement issued on 17 October 2025, Andrew reiterated he "vigorously" denied the accusations against him. 

So what else is inside the latest drop? What does it say about his relationship with the convicted sex offender? And how much further can Andrew fall? 

Listen to the latest episode of the Daily podcast...

We can now bring you an email sent by "Sarah" to Jeffrey Epstein on the evening of 30 January 2010.

Paste BN believes the sender to be Sarah Ferguson.

In the email, she described Epstein as a "legend". 

"I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. I am at your service. Just marry me," she wrote.

We don't know what the email was in response to or have any further context around this message.

In a 2011 interview, Ferguson said: "I would never have anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children. It was a gigantic error of judgment."

Being named in these documents is not a sign of wrongdoing.

A Scottish MP has reported Lord Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police over his association with Jeffrey Epstein while working as a government minister.

Stephen Flynn, the Westminster leader for the Scottish National Party (SNP), said in a statement the "disgraceful revelations" about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein "must be fully investigated by the UK government and all appropriate authorities".

He said: 

"There is no question that Lord Mandelson's actions were shameful and unethical - the only question is the extent to which his actions breached the ministerial code and the law.

"I have, therefore, reported Peter Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police."

Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig reacted to the news...

The Met have been approached for comment.

Mandelson announced his resignation from the Labour Party yesterday, but has so far given no indication if he will give up his peerage in the House of Lords.

On his relationship with Epstein, Mandelson has said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."

By Eleanor Deeley, US producer

A search for 'Trump' in the Department of Justice's so-called Epstein library returns 5,176 results.

But what do those results tell us?

There are interview notes with Epstein survivors who name Donald Trump, including references to Mar-a-Lago, but we have found no allegation of wrongdoing by Trump.

There is also a spreadsheet summary of unverified tips submitted to the FBI. This has been widely circulated online and contains graphic descriptions of abuse. 

The complaints are unsubstantiated and were made over an unspecified timeframe. There are also names of other high-profile politicians and celebrities in the list.

Mr Trump has said he's considering legal action over information in and reaction to the files, including threatening to sue comedian Trevor Noah for a joke at the Grammy Awards last night.

Trump posted on Truth Social:

"Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there"

The potential for defamation may be one reason why US media organisations have had a tempered reaction to the latest release of files. 

The US Department of Justice said the documents contain "untrue and sensationalist claims" against Trump that are "unfounded and false". 

Another email exchange details a brief conversation between Jeffrey Epstein and "The Duke" - believed to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York.

Andrew writes to Epstein asking him to "add one more [redacted], Romanian very cute".

It's unclear who or what the former prince may have been referring to.

Epstein later replies: "No problem."

In a statement issued on 17 October 2025, Andrew reiterated he "vigorously" denied the accusations against him. 

A May 2013 email exchange reveals another glimpse into past conversations between Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.

In the thread, the pair appear to be discussing an upcoming trip by Mandelson to St Petersburg.

In one email, Mandelson tells Epstein: "It's a rave," with a later email referring to "tasty models and dancing".

On his relationship with Epstein, Mandelson has said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."

The latest release contains new images showing Jeffrey Epstein's prison cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York.

In one photo inside the cell, orange sheets are scattered across the floor and over a mattress on the metal bunkbed.

A number of bottles and packages also appear to be placed on the top bunk.

Another new image shows yellow tape marking the outside of the cell door.

Similar images to these have been in previous releases of the Epstein files.

There is no context given for both photos - we don't know when they were taken or who they were taken by.

Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges.