Newly unsealed court documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case have uncovered the extensive dual role of German-born investor David Stern, who simultaneously served as a trusted associate within British royal circles while maintaining a close operational relationship with the convicted sex offender. The revelations present a complex web of connections that challenges previous understandings of Epstein’s infiltration into elite social networks.
Stern, a 48-year-old financier now residing in the United Arab Emirates, appears thousands of times in the recently released Epstein files, positioning him as what investigators now describe as Epstein’s ‘unofficial ambassador’ to the royal family. His access to Prince Andrew’s inner circle was so substantial that he obtained directorial positions at two prestigious royal-affiliated institutions: St George’s House trust within Windsor Castle (from which he resigned in 2022) and Andrew’s entrepreneurial initiative Pitch@Palace (resigned in 2019).
The documents reveal Stern’s multifaceted relationship with Epstein extended from at least 2009 through 2018, continuing even after Epstein’s first conviction for sex crimes. Their communications included sexually explicit material, with Stern sending photographs of nude women and organizing travel arrangements for unidentified women between London and Paris at Epstein’s request. In one particularly revealing 2014 exchange, Stern conveyed birthday wishes to Epstein from Prince Andrew alongside a photograph of champagne being poured over a naked woman’s body.
Stern’s business dealings with Epstein were equally extensive. He repeatedly pitched China-focused investment opportunities, attempted to facilitate Epstein’s visa application to China (which was denied due to his criminal record), and proposed Epstein purchase the luxury Dukes hotel near Buckingham Palace—complete with suggestions for installing a ‘playroom.’ Their correspondence also shows Stern acting as an intermediary between Epstein and powerful figures including former Labour minister Peter Mandelson and Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
Perhaps most significantly, Stern served as a reporting channel between royal activities and Epstein, providing updates on Prince Andrew’s movements, business dealings, and personal affairs. He organized aspects of Andrew’s official trips to China and Malaysia while explicitly stating in a 2011 email that he preferred to ‘stay in the background/hidden, just make the arrangements.’
The documents reveal Stern maintained his royal connections even after Epstein’s 2019 death, remaining on the board of St George’s House until 2022. His proximity to the highest levels of the establishment was demonstrated by his seating position directly next to Queen Elizabeth during a 2016 event at St James’s Palace.
These revelations come amid ongoing fallout for Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles and military affiliations in 2022 and has recently been forced to relocate from his Royal Lodge residence. The files suggest Epstein’s connections within British elite circles were more institutionalized and operationally active than previously understood, with Stern acting as a key conduit between the disgraced financier and the highest levels of British society.