The Duchess of York has been dropped as patron of a children’s charity after leaked emails appeared to show her apologising to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for disowning him.
Julia’s House announced the move on Monday after it emerged Sarah Ferguson had called Epstein a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend”, according to a leaked email dated 26 April 2011 – just weeks after she told reporters she would “never have anything to do with” the convicted sex offender again.
The hospice, in the Dorset and Wiltshire area, said in a statement issued to The Independent: “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.”
The email, first reported by the Sun on Sunday and the Daily Mail, reportedly showed that the duchess had “humbly apologised” to the disgraced financier for linking him to paedophilia in the media, before lathering him with praise about his strength and generosity.
But her spokesperson has insisted that Ms Ferguson sent the letter only in an attempt to “assuage Epstein and his threats”, claiming he had threatened to sue her for defamation for her comments in the media.
The duchess gave an interview to the Evening Standard on 7 March 2011 in which she apologised for accepting £15,000 from Epstein. She went on to issue what appeared at the time to be a heartfelt apology for her association with the disgraced financier, who died in prison eight years later in 2019.
“I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say,” the duchess told the newspaper. “Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
Little over a month later, the duchess sent an email from her private account to the convicted paedophile, apologising and telling him she had felt “broken and lost” after being told not to associate with him, according to the reports.
The email is reported to have read: “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. I am apologising to you today for not replying to your email or reaching out to you.
“I was bedridden with fear. I was paralysed. I was advised, in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you. And if I did – I would cause more problems to you, the duke and myself. I was broken and lost. So please understand. I didn’t want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in overriding fear. I am sorry.”
The duchess’s spokesperson has said she was “taken in by his lies” and sent the email only to avoid the threat of defamation.
They said: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.
“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then.
“This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”
The Independent has approached representatives of Ms Ferguson for further comment.
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