An email about a former personal assistant to Sarah Ferguson who was owed almost $60,000 in unpaid wages was found on disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's desk.

The email, snapped on a piece of paper in Epstein's office by a photographer in 2015, was addressed to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's previous right-hand woman Amanda Thirsk.

Titled 'Settlement - John O'Sullivan', it states that an agreement for the reimbursement of $59,933 (around £44,433) had been made between Mr O'Sullivan, and the former Duke and Duchess.

But it was claimed that two months later, on February 17, 2011, the money had still not been paid.

The email emerged after American photographer Christopher Anderson took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal he had snapped portraits of the billionaire financier at his home for a story that was later pulled.

It is unknown why the email from four years prior was on Epstein's desk at the time of the photoshoot. 

But Sarah Ferguson previously admitted she had used £15,000 of Epstein's funds to help clear her debts to former staff member Mr O'Sullivan, who was owed a total of £78,000.

The email read: 'Dear Amanda, I have expressed my concern to you that despite all our concerted efforts I still remain unpaid. 

An email about a former personal assistant to Sarah Ferguson being owed almost $60,000 in wages and sent to the former Duke and Duchess was photographed in Jeffrey Epstein's office

The email was photographed during a shoot of Epstein in his office for New York Magazine in 2015

'The financial arrangements have been agreed directly between the Duke, the Duchess and I for some 2 months. 

'Yet from what I understand there is no plan in place to pay me the $59,933 I am now clearly owed. I agreed to reduce the amount I am owed by the Duchess in wages from $72,596 to $59,933 in order to reach an agreement with the Duke and Duchess. 

'The Duchess then emailed me, twice, to say that my offer was to receive this money lightly given the debts incurred as an acceptable to both her and the Duke. 

'I did not waive my right result of this non-payment and resulting struggle I have endured to try and support myself and pay for my MBA course at Columbia.'

The photo of the paper shows the email was sent to Ms Thirsk, Andrew and Sarah, with the former prince commenting: 'Er?'

Epstein was released from prison in July 2009, having served 13 months of an 18 month sentence for soliciting prostitution from girls as young as 14.

Just under 18 months later, in December 2010, Epstein agreed to pay £15,000 owed in unpaid wages and other bills to Mr O'Sullivan.