Just In: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ‘considered abdication’ after Eugenie and Beatrice told to ‘get a…

Just In: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ‘considered abdication’ after Eugenie and Beatrice told to ‘get a job’

Newly released documents include references to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “considering abdication”, after correspondence claimed Queen Elizabeth had said his daughters should “get a job”.

The files, made public by the US Department of Justice, contain correspondence sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 that described tensions within the York family.

The material reflects claims and descriptions contained within private correspondence and has not been tested in court.

Messages described the late Queen’s son as being trapped “like a zoo animal” within royal life, with “no way esp now for him to thrive.”

The documents appear to show that Epstein remained in contact with members of the York family during this period, after Andrew had publicly stated that he had severed ties following a meeting in New York.

An email dated May 8, 2011, sent by someone identified only as “Melanie,” detailed the difficulties facing the York family at that time.

“Stuff bad for A’s girls,” the message read. “Got royal protection taken away. Queen said np royal list, get a job.”

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie had their publicly funded security removed around this period due to cost concerns, despite not being classified as official working royals

The email continued: “S has a specific question for you. A is sad and frustrated. Considering abdication but he’s like a zoo animal, no way esp now for him to thrive.”

The correspondence does not clarify whether this referred to stepping back from duties or something else, given that Andrew cannot abdicate as he is not sovereign.

Both princesses have since established careers outside royal duties, with Beatrice serving as vice-president of strategic partnerships at software firm Afiniti and Eugenie working as a director at Mayfair gallery Hauser & Wirth.

Epstein responded to Melanie’s message with a warning to “be careful,” claiming there was a “rat” feeding stories about the family to a tabloid newspaper. He wrote: “It’s a he, feels underpaid, feels A abusing privilege.”

The documents also refer to Epstein assisting with financial matters involving the York family during this period, despite public perceptions that contact had ended.

This assistance included settling debts owed by Sarah Ferguson to a former member of staff and offering guidance on her various business ventures. In January 2011, Andrew himself wrote to Epstein expressing his frustrations with royal life.

“Just going into my annual retreat for the next 8 days,” he said. “This week is all about me; for one week of the year it’s great; time to put something back into me before the rest of the world starts sucking it out in all their greed and demands.”

The released files also describe Sarah Ferguson’s financial situation during this period. In 2009, correspondence from a man named David Stern to Epstein revealed that Ms Ferguson had contacted him about meeting “Vladimir,” described as a Russian billionaire whose surname she did not know, hoping he might finance her ventures if Epstein declined.

Following the News of the World’s cash-for-access sting in May 2010, Stern reported that Ms Ferguson “sounded like death” and believed she would need to distance herself from Andrew, even though he had not explicitly told her so. She enquired whether she should file for bankruptcy, with Epstein reportedly advising this course of action.

Ms Ferguson also repeatedly asked Epstein for employment, writing in August 2010: “I am feeling very traumatised and alone. I am wanting to work for you at organising your houses.”

The documents also shed light on the unconventional relationship between the former Duke and Duchess of York, who ended their marriage in 1996 yet continued sharing a home.

In September 2010, Stern alerted Epstein to a potentially dubious business opportunity, noting that Andrew “has asked me to see a guy who has access to Nigeria oil and when selling it to China (or somebody else).”

He suggested Ms Ferguson could earn approximately $6million (£4.7million at the time) from the arrangement but added: “This seems very fishy.”

On Christmas Day 2010, Ms Ferguson sent an email to Epstein expressing her enduring affection for her former husband. “I do know that my handsome Prince is a saint,” she wrote. “And you worship him, I do too. But then I did marry him. And still Love him.”

There is no suggestion that Stern was involved in any wrongdoing while corresponding with Epstein