Fergie defends Epstein email as protecting her children amid royal fallout

Sarah Ferguson says she was trying to protect her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie when she sent an apology email to Jeffrey Epstein, according to statements from her spokesman James Henderson. Henderson defended the duchess, saying her children would always come first.

Henderson also described a chilling warning from Epstein that, in his view, could have harmed the York family, which he said helps explain why Ferguson is reported to have described Epstein as a supreme friend in leaked 2011 correspondence. The communications, which surfaced in media reports, show a stark shift from Ferguson publicly condemning Epstein to a tone that his allies say reflected pressure she faced.

In the leaked message Ferguson is said to have humbly apologised and to have told Epstein she was aware he would feel hellaciously let down by her. The revelations have prompted several charities to cut ties with the duchess, a decision that has been praised by Virginia Giuffre’s family, who urged U.S. organizations to follow suit and held the actions up as accountability for those connected to Epstein and Maxwell.

Her spokesman’s account, along with the leaked exchanges, has intensified focus on Ferguson’s role and the perceived tension between her public stance on Epstein and her private communications. The duchess’s family, sources close to the matter and charity officials have described the period as a difficult one, with Ferguson facing intense pressure to distance herself from Epstein while also considering the safety of her children.

Giuffre, who has claimed she was abused by Epstein and trafficked to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17, was reported to have died in April, according to statements referenced by The Times. The claim adds another layer of complexity to the broader scrutiny of Epstein’s network and its ties to powerful figures. Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the underlying allegations related to Giuffre and Epstein.

Meanwhile, Prince Andrew was seen driving a Range Rover away from his Windsor home with a male passenger, marking his first appearance in public since the episode surrounding Ferguson’s emails came to light. The sighting underscored the ongoing public interest in how the royal family responds to the fallout from the Epstein saga.

Public support for Ferguson emerged from Lizzie Cundy, a television personality and former wife of footballer Jason Cundy, who spoke to Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine amid the fallout. Cundy described Ferguson as devastated and very sorry, noting there were reasons behind the apology and stressing that the duchess felt she had to respond after Epstein publicly attacked her family. Cundy also referenced the intense legal pressure and personal threats Ferguson faced, saying she believed Ferguson was acting out of fear for herself and her relatives.

The interview with Cundy touched on the broader context of Epstein’s influence and the challenges faced by those who found themselves entangled with him. While Ferguson’s supporters emphasize that her actions were influenced by a desire to shield her children, critics have said the leaked communications raise questions about the degree to which the duchess engaged with Epstein in private and how those actions align with her public statements. The situation continues to unfold as charities assess their associations and the royal family faces renewed scrutiny over its past associations.