Duchess of York dropped by second charity over Epstein emails

The Duchess of York has been dropped as the patron of a children's hospice and a food allergy charity after emails emerged showing her calling convicted paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein a “supreme friend.”

Emails reported over the weekend revealed that Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of the Duke of York, “humbly apologised” to Epstein for linking him to paedophilia in the media, calling him “steadfast” and “generous”.

On Monday, children's hospice Julia's House said the correspondence made it "inappropriate for her to continue as a patron".

Following the announcement from Julia's House, food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation also announced it had dropped the duchess as a patron.

Julia's House said in a statement: "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."

Julia's House runs several children's hospices in Dorset and Wiltshire.

In a later statement, founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse said: “We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York’s, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.

“Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years.

“She was a patron, but in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity.

“We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past.”

In response to the emails reported in The Sun, the duchess's spokesman said it was sent “in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats”.

The emails were dated April 26, 2011 - just weeks after she publicly disavowed Epstein, telling the Evening Standard she would “never have anything to do with” him again.

On March 7, 2011, in an interview with the Evening Standard, the duchess expressed regret over accepting £15,000 from Epstein.

“I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf,” she told the newspaper. “I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”

However, little over a month later, she reportedly sent an email to Epstein from her private account, apologising and stating she was “bedridden with fear”.

“I know you feel hellaciously let down by me,” the duchess wrote. “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.”

She continued: “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 over-riding fear. I am sorry.”

The duchess’s spokesman reiterated that Epstein had threatened legal action after she publicly linked him to paedophilia.

“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,” the spokesman said. “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.”