The four European monarchies implicated (for now) in Epstein's files

BarcelonaNo death is more alive than Jeffrey Epstein, a financial magnate who lived a life that, at first glance, could be defined as the American Dream, going from a simple working-class high school teacher to a billionaire with properties around the world and high-level connections capable of changing the course of any business he undertook. Unfortunately, the facts dismantle this narrative, as the rise of that young Jewish man from Brooklyn has always been more closely linked to shady dealings than to success born of effort and talent for his profession, whatever it may have been.

Having died by suicide in 2019 while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, where he awaited federal trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors, Epstein has been in the news for the past ten days because—after a very long wait—he has released more than three million of his personal files. A massive data breach has left many well-known people around the world—many of them in public office—in very bad shape. Among them, European royal families stand out, some of whose members were particularly vulnerable to the revelations. charms Epstein's. This, which might seem coincidental, reveals how members of these hereditary elites live, always tempted by dangerous figures who can offer them lives that would be very unseemly to pay for with public funds. The quid pro quo is allowing themselves to be paraded like trophies that confer social prestige or, worse still, opening doors that are closed to most thanks to their powerful connections. Epstein's files make this clear.

Disaster at Windsor Castle

The royals The Windsors have been among those most affected by the Epstein files, a large family with a member embroiled in controversy. As everyone knew even before the US Department of Justice released the files, Prince Andrew has been Epstein's greatest victim, if not, in reality, his own worst enemy. Knowing what we knew about poor Virginia Giuffre, allegedly abused—the trial never took place—by him when she was a minor at Epstein's home, the revelation of photos of Queen Elizabeth II's second son lying motionless on the floor of a very young woman makes everyone fear the worst. Nor is it pleasant to see Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's wife, portraying herself in a way that doesn't help her curry favor with Epstein, even going so far as to ask him for £20,000 to pay off a rent debt. Even after Epstein was convicted of sexual abuse in 2008, Fergie's relationship with him continued unabated. He even awkwardly mentions his daughter Eugenie in an email—"I'm waiting for her to get back from a weekend of sex"—tells her he's a "legend," says he's "the brother I wish I'd had," and proposes: "Marry me." By this point, nobody expected anything good from Sarah Ferguson, but neither did they expect so little.

Ferguson was no longer legally anyone to the Crown, but he maintained a close relationship with his former in-laws that is now dead and buried. Andrew has lost his title of prince, all aristocratic distinctions, allowances, and even the royal residence where he lived, a mansion known as Royal Lodge. The consequences have arrived slowly but surely for both of them, as their immeasurable lack of morals has been demonstrated. And no one expected them to involve their daughters in this scheme. The former Duke and Duchess of York had no qualms about their two daughters—then 20 and 19 years old—meeting Epstein in 2009, just after he had served a year in prison for attempting to prostitute a minor and while he was still under house arrest at his mansion in Florida, USA.

Mette-Marit, sunk

Further north, the monarchy has also been severely damaged by the close relationship of not just a minor member of the family, but a central figure, with the American pedophile. This is Mette-Marit of Norway, who has accumulated so many controversies simultaneously that she has managed to undermine the prestige of a monarchy that has never been so questioned as in the Scandinavian country. While she awaits a lung transplant and watches her son... Marius is on trial for 38 alleged crimesMore than 1,000 appearances of the Norwegian princess consort and heir to the throne have been revealed in Epstein's archives.

The emails they exchanged were based on obvious flirting, in which she said things like, "I'm bored, come and save me." She also asked him if it would be okay for her to give her son—who is now on trial for four rapes, among other serious charges—images of naked women to use as his computer wallpaper. All of this happened while she was already married to the son of the King of Norway and when Epstein was already facing a public and notorious conviction for recruiting minors and then attempting to prostitute them. It has also come to light that Mette-Marit spent four days at Epstein's home. Officials in Palau were quick to say that she was "accompanied by a friend." For them, this is a relief. But, given everything that has come to light, for others it may be an aggravating factor. Even the country's prime minister has publicly condemned her, and some members of the press are questioning whether someone with her background is qualified for the role of queen consort, which she will soon have to assume, given that King Harald is 88 years old.

Sofia, when she wanted to be an actress

Princess Sofia of Sweden has also been portrayed as one of the many young women who were always surrounded by Jeffrey Epstein. When she was 20, she was a model and participated in reality showsWe have learned that she met twice with the former friend of everyone who is now considered a friend by no one. "No one can remember all the people they have met throughout their life, but Princess Sofia recalls meeting Epstein a couple of times about 20 years ago. We want to clarify that this occurred in social contexts, such as a restaurant or a film premiere," sources at the Palau were quick to say.

It appears that Sofia of Sweden, when she was known simply as Sofia Hellqvist, was personally invited by Epstein to attend a private screening ofLes Misérables on Broadway in 2012. The social nature of that meeting, which was also private, is unknown. The Epstein case has also greatly strained the semantics of texts published by institutions. Sofia, who was living in the US at the time because she wanted to be an actress, had been introduced to Epstein by Barbro Ehnbom, a Swedish businesswoman known for promoting women's networks in the business world. Sofia became a mother a year ago and remains removed from the agenda of the Swedish kingdom, which does not affect her husband: Carl Philip, son of King Carl Gustaf. He did not attend the Nobel Prize ceremony, citing caring for his child. With the three previous children she has had with her husband, the prince, she had never missed the ceremony.

Belgium, singled out but 'saved'

Finally, the role of Prince Lorenz of Belgium also gained prominence. Traditionally a source of controversy, he stood out in this case for having thwarted Epstein's ambitions regarding the Belgian royal family. According to revelations following the release of the deluge of files, the financier was very insistent on bribing the Belgian king's younger brother. "He asked me questions I constantly refused to answer. He wanted to meet my parents to introduce them to his billionaire friends; I told him my parents were not for sale," explained the prince, who, despite this firm stance, did meet with Epstein on a couple of occasions. He says the millionaire's objective was to establish contacts with educational institutions to provide economic and financial training, "especially at universities with women."

"Later, he asked me to participate in an environmental project. That project had a clear corrupt intent. I flatly rejected his request," adds Llorenç, who says that, despite his refusals, Epstein never stopped insisting. Such was the sexual predator's persistence that in 2012 he invited him to dinner "with a head of state and wealthy and influential men." According to Llorenç, he did not attend. We'll see if that version holds up while the world's press continues to sift through all these files. Llorenç explained all this without mentioning that he had met with Epstein twice, a detail he had to hastily add in a statement an hour and a half after the first one. It's all a fragile balance in relation to a dead man who seems more alive than ever.