The British royal family is embroiled in a new crisis following the revelation of a message sent by Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, to American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of child sexual abuse and was found dead in his cell in August 2019. The message sparked a wave of condemnations that led seven charities to publicly cut their partnerships with the duchess within a few days, while other charities are still reviewing their positions.
The British newspaper “The Sun” revealed the email sent by the duchess on April 26, 2011, just weeks after she announced in an interview with the “Evening Standard” on March 7, 2011, that she would “never deal” with Epstein again. The paper published an excerpt from the message that read: “I know you are very disappointed in me. I must apologize to you and to everything in my heart for that. You have always been a loyal, generous, and great friend to me and my family. I was advised to cut ties with you, and if I do, I will cause you more problems.”
A spokesperson for the duchess attempted to justify the matter by saying that the message was sent “in the context of advice the duchess received to try to calm Epstein and his threats,” noting that Epstein threatened to sue her for defamation.
A royal source told the “Daily Mail” that there is a rift between Prince William and his father, King Charles, regarding how to handle the crisis. While the Prince of Wales is pushing for a complete disavowal of the duchess and his uncle Prince Andrew, the king is reluctant to sever all ties.
According to the report, Prince William “considers his uncle and aunt ‘a duo of adventurers’ and has been fed up with them long before the recent York duchess scandal.” A source familiar with the situation told the paper: “His face while standing next to Andrew at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral was one of complete disgust.” The source claimed: “William, more than the king, feels that Andrew and Fergie are a source of embarrassment and will urge his father to act. The sight of this duo of adventurers laughing cynically (at events) is horrifying.”
For his part, King Charles does not wish to completely disavow them for two main reasons: first, both Andrew and Sarah “are loyal to him and the crown… unlike Harry and Meghan.” The second is his desire to “reflect their loyalty and ensure that his brother’s wife does not rebel like the Sussexes, and to respect the wishes of his late mother, the queen.”
The pressures are likely to translate into practical measures, as the king is expected to prevent the divorced couple from appearing publicly with the royal family at official events. It may even lead to their eviction from their residence, “Royal Lodge” in Windsor, a measure that William is demanding “as a minimum.”
A royal source also hinted at a risky option, which is that the palace may advise Sarah Ferguson to give a guilty confession interview, but not in the style of Prince Andrew’s disastrous “Newsnight” interrogation. The source said: “I think there is a lot that will be revealed about Epstein and Andrew. Perhaps the royal family should consider preempting all of this with an admission? The Duchess of York is exceptionally charming.” Emphasizing that “this latest scandal threatens her ability to earn money, in addition to her charitable patronage.”
