Andrew 'pushed through' appointment of Jeffery Epstein's fixer to board of Windsor Castle trust despite opposition

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 'pushed through' the appointment of Jeffrey Epstein's fixer to the board of a Windsor Castle trust despite opposition from members, it was claimed today. 

The former prince, who turns 66 today, is said to have 'imposed' David Stern, a close confidant of the paedophile financier, on board members of the St George's House Trust in 2016. 

German businessman Stern features in at least 7,461 documents in the Epstein files and is seen in a photograph alongside Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

The 48-year-old is understood to have been introduced to the former Duke and Duchess of York in 2009 by Epstein, and went on to become a close friend of the couple.

Documents released in the files appear to show that Stern accompanied Andrew on trips to China and southeast Asia during his time as a trade envoy and served as a director of Andrew's Pitch@Palace startup from 2017 to 2019. 

When Stern, who described Epstein as 'my boss', was proposed to the board by Andrew, other members are said to have raised concerns about his background. 

'There was unhappiness about the fact that this man was being imposed upon the board by Prince Andrew, and there was the feeling that we shouldn't accept him,' one former board member told The Times.

'Several members of the board objected to Stern's candidacy but it was pushed through because Prince Andrew wanted him there.'

David Stern (left) became a close confidant of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson

Andrew is said to have 'pushed through' Stern's appointment to the board of the charity St George's House (Pictured meeting the Dean of Windsor Christopher Cocksworth in 2025)

The St George's House Trust was founded in 1966 by Prince Philip and the Dean of Windsor, Robin Woods.

Its aim is described as drawing together prominent members of society to advance moral, religious and social understanding. 

The house is situated on Denton’s Commons and forms part of the 14th-century foundations of the College of St George in the grounds of Windsor Castle. 

Current board members include Princess Anne, chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union Richard Collier-Keywood and Carol Mack, the chief executive of the Association of Charitable Foundations.

Among those to raise concerns was the only life member of the charity Sir Claude Hankes, who hired a law firm to give a view on Stern's candidacy.

His suspicions are said to have been raised after the businessman claimed to be a 'contact of the Queen'. 

A memo raised a number of unanswered questions about Stern's background, questioning why he desired 'privacy' over his family background.

Despite the memo, warden of the St George's House Trust Dr Hueston Finlay wrote to board members in December 2016 saying Stern's candidacy had been accepted by the nomination committee. He served on the board until 2022.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files show Stern was in frequent contact with Epstein.

In 2014, Stern emailed Epstein a picture of champagne being poured over a naked woman as part of a birthday message. Later in the day, he wrote: 'PA [Prince Andrew] sends his birthday wishes and love.' 

There are also multiple instances of Stern and Epstein discussing women, with Stern providing the paedophile with 'P ratings' from various countries he was visiting.

Following a trip to Odesa, Ukraine in 2009, he said the nation had a 'P factor 9/10 with extra 0.5 dirt bonus'.

A photo from the Epstein files appears to show Andrew leaning over an unidentified woman in what looks to be Epstein's New York home

Epstein is pictured with a young woman who appears to be in her underwear in a photograph released as part of the Epstein files

Stern also got involved in Andrew and Sarah's private lives and, in 2013, was entrusted by Epstein to organise a date between Andrew and an attractive female acquaintance visiting London. 

'I have a very beautiful friend coming [sic]... Andrew might want to have her for a dinner,' Epstein wrote.

Two years later, Stern was employed by Epstein to look after his Belarusian girlfriend Karyna Shuliak, 26. 'Karyna... and Jen, the tall girl who you've met will be in London... They have never been there before... I'd appreciate any help you can give them.' Their trip appears to have included a visit to Buckingham Palace.

Stern, who asked Epstein to be godfather to his child, regularly met with Ms Ferguson and also tried to broker a deal for her to become a paid ambassador for the Cunard cruise line.

He was also an intermediary in apparent attempts by Prince Andrew to organise a meeting between Epstein and former Libyan dictator Colonel Gadaffi in 2010. 

It was confirmed earlier this month that the German financier has resigned from an advisory role with the University of Cambridge over his links to Epstein.

Stern had held a role on the Cambridge Judge Business School (JBS) advisory board, having been appointed in 2018.