Who is the mysterious German businessman named in 7,461 of the Epstein files?

A secretive German business consultant stands at the heart of Andrew and Epstein’s relationship and appears to have been a friend of Sarah Ferguson.

An elusive figure with little online presence, David Stern features in 7,461 documents in the latest Epstein files, including a photograph of him with the former Duke and Duchess of York.

Stern, 48, emerges as a close aide to Andrew and Epstein, referring to the latter as ‘boss’ and passing hundreds of messages between the pair concerning potential business deals.

He also helped to orchestrate their 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 comoing [sic]… Andrew might want to have her for a dinner,’ Epstein wrote.

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.’

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.

Andrew made him a director of Pitch@Palace, his Dragons’ Den-style business venture, and introduced him to the late Queen Elizabeth, who sat next to him at an event at St James’s Palace.

Stern joined Andrew on government trade envoy visits to Asia, emails show.

He was also given a seat on the board of the St George’s House Trust, a charity founded by Prince Philip.