An email about one of Sarah Ferguson’s personal assistants, who was owed nearly £45,000, was found on US financier Jeffrey Epstein’s desk, it has emerged. US photographer Christopher Anderson this week uploaded a new series of photographs he took of the disgraced convicted paedophile at his home in 2015 for a story which was later pulled from publication.
Two of the pictures featured a close-up of Epstein’s desk, which included an email printed on a piece of paper placed on top of other folders. The email, sent on February 17, 2011, was titled: “Settlement – John O’Sullivan” and was sent to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s private secretary at the time, Amanda Thirsk. Andrew and Fergie, as she is also known, were also copied into the email.
The email read: “Dear Amanda, I have expressed my concern to you that despite all our concerted efforts, I still remain unpaid.
“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 [£44,587] 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 former prince is then seen replying with an “Er?” It is not known why the email, which was four years old at the time the photos were taken, was placed on Epstein’s desk.
In March 2011, The Telegraph reported that Fergie received financial help from Epstein, who gave £15,000 to Mr O’Sullivan as part of a process for the Duchess to settle her debts with him.
The same month, Ms Ferguson apologised publicly and called it a “gigantic error of judgment”.
She said: “I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me. 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. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
However, new emails emerged last September and showed Fergie had kept in touch with the convicted paedophile until April 2011. She called him her “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” and “humbly apologised” for her public remarks.
Following the furore, her spokesperson has said she was “taken in by his lies” and sent the email only to avoid the threat of defamation.
The spokesman 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.”
But the damage was already done as several of Fergie’s charities severed ties with her, while the King also axed her of her Duchess of York title. She is also expected to vacate Royal Lodge this year.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
