Leaked emails have reportedly revealed that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, “humbly” apologized to Jeffrey Epstein just weeks after publicly condemning him in 2011, the BBC reports. The new information has ignited a fresh wave of public discourse and renews interest on the broader royal crisis surrounding Epstein and Prince Andrew.
The BBC reports that the emails, obtained by The Sun and Mail on Sunday (MoS), show Ferguson writing to Epstein in April 2011, expressing regret. This followed her public statements in a newspaper interview where she had called her friendship with the convicted sex offender a “gigantic error of judgment” and vowed to cut all ties. The duchess is said to have promised, “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children.”
The initial criticism and media scrutiny in 2011 were fueled by the revelations that Epstein had provided £15,000 to help pay off Ferguson’s debts. This financial transaction, reportedly arranged through Prince Andrew, linked the Ferguson directly to the disgraced financier.
Related: Prince Andrew Had 12 Affairs in First Year of Marriage to Sarah Ferguson, New Biography Claims
The leaked emails suggest that Ferguson’s public denouncement was a strategic move to salvage her career. She reportedly wrote to Epstein, “I was instructed to act with the utmost speed if I would have any chance of holding on to my career as a children’s book author and a children’s philanthropist.” Further emails reveal her concern for the duke, writing that she was advised “not to speak or email you and if I did I would cause more problems to you, the duke and myself.”
The controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and his ties to Epstein has continued for years. In 2022, the prince settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein, who had accused him of sexual assault. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing, but the legal and public fallout was significant. Following the scandal, he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages and is no longer a working member of the royal family.
A spokesperson for the duchess has since provided a different explanation for the emails, stating they were a response to Epstein’s threat to sue her for defamation. They clarified that the duchess’s first thoughts “are with his victims” and that she “does not resile from anything she said then.” Despite this, the saga highlights the intricate and often dramatic relationships within the royal family and the lasting impact of their connections to Epstein’s world.
Next: Queen Elizabeth’s Last Words to Sarah Ferguson Revealed
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN‘s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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