Epstein had framed photo of Sarah Ferguson at ranch where he abused women and girls

A photo that appears to show Sarah Ferguson modelling as a young woman was framed and displayed in convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein‘s “playboy ranch” in the US, The i Paper can reveal. The dramatic black and white portrait was found among emails in the Epstein Files, along with new confirmation of how far back the paedophile’s friendship with the former Duchess of York went. Analysis of the photograph – sent by Epstein to Ferguson alongside the message “the good old days” – was placed inside a library at Epstein’s secluded mansion on his “Zorro” ranch estate in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The site is now at centre of a new investigation into sexual abuse and trafficking, with multiple survivors coming forward with allegations that they were recruited and abused by Epstein at the ranch, which they said was integral to his sex-trafficking operation. Shorts It comes a day after Ferguson’s charity, Sarah’s Trust, was formally shut down and removed from the UK’s public register of charities. She launched the venture in 2020 to “address the humanitarian and environmental crisis”. It shuttered “for the foreseeable future” in February following revelations about her relationship with Epstein. ‘The good old days’ Epstein sent an email sharing the picture with Ferguson in September 2010, two years after his conviction for child sex offences, alongside the message: “The good old days”. The date the photo was taken is not known, but it was likely captured before 2001, as her dress features an illustration of the New York skyline, including the Twin Towers, which collapsed during the 9/11 terror attack in September that year. The framed photo appears to show Ferguson looking down the camera’s lens. The room’s distinctive decor can be seen in the background (Photo: DOJ) The discovery is significant, according to royal historian Andrew Lownie, whose book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York charts the lives of Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as well as their relationship with Epstein. “There has hitherto not been a link between Sarah Ferguson and the Zorro ranch,” he told The i Paper. “She visited his other properties multiple times.” He added: “It looks like the photo was taken before Ferguson is supposed to have met Epstein in the 1990s so the mystery remains was it gifted? What could ‘the good old days’ refer to?” A separate email from Epstein unearthed from the files released by the US Department of Justice appears to confirm that Ferguson’s friendship with the sex offender began around 1995. In the 2011 email, Epstein remarks that they have been friends for “16 years”. Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling Zorro Ranch photographed 2019, with the maze and helipad visible to the left (Photo: KRQE via AP/File) Lownie believes the photo suggests that Fergie and Epstein’s relationship began before the 1990s. Ferguson has never commented on when they met. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that we only have the tip of the iceberg in terms of this story which is why it is so important both Yorks speak to law enforcement and the lawyers of the victims.” ‘Playboy Ranch’ The i Paper’s analysis using open-source evidence shows the picture had been placed on a table inside a library at Epstein’s “Zorro” ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The room’s distinctive shelving and panelling visible behind the frame can be seen in photos published by the US government of the inside of his remote 21,000sq ft Spanish-style mansion situated in the depths of 7,500-acres of desert. Known as Zorro Ranch but dubbed by locals as the “playboy ranch”, the property is at the centre of a new US investigation into sexual abuse and trafficking, with multiple survivors coming forward with allegations that they were recruited and abused by Epstein at Zorro Ranch, which they said was integral to his sex-trafficking operation. Inside the library at Zorro Ranch, where the photo of Ferguson was snapped by Epstein (Photo: DOJ) The distinctive detailing and pattern on the shelves matches that in the background of Epstein’s emailed note to Ferguson (Photo: DOJ) Part of the new investigation is examining claims made in documents in the Epstein Files regarding allegations that two “foreign girls” were buried outside his remote ranch, according to Reuters. “That’s where the majority of the assaults happened. I have my darkest memories from Zorro Ranch,” Epstein survivor Chauntae Davies told the BBC in March. She recalled seeing framed photos of Ferguson as well as Mountbatten-Windsor and their daughters at the property. Another survivor, Annie Farmer, said she was abused there by Epstein and Maxwell when she was aged 16. The late Virginia Giuffre also was repeatedly taken to Zorro Ranch. While it is still not known if Ferguson ever visited the property, which had its own maze, airstrip and helipad, Mountbatten-Windsor was reported to have spent three days there in the company of a “young, beautiful” woman that worked for Epstein, according to Lownie’s book. Investigators are looking into claims Epstein sexually abused girls and women for more than two decades. He died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking minors. More than three million documents released by the DOJ earlier in 2025 and 2026 shed light on secret communications between the sex offender and the rich and powerful people he surrounded himself with. There are thousands of references to the ranch in the emails. The former Duke of York, Ferguson’s ex-husband, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he passed confidential material to Epstein, following the release of the files. Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation in February. The scope of the investigation was widened last month to include allegations of sexual misconduct. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor denies any wrongdoing. Ferguson continued her friendship with Epstein after he was released from prison and pleaded with him to pay her debts, as well as visiting him twice while he was imprisoned for child sex crimes. Ferguson was approached for comment but did not respond.