Duchess of York apologizes to Epstein in email after disowning him

Sarah, Duchess of York, wrote to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in April 2011 apologising for publicly disowning him and describing him as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend," according to recently published correspondence, prompting at least one charity to sever formal ties with the duchess. The email, dated April 26, 2011 and said to have been sent from her private account, came weeks after the duchess publicly said she would have nothing more to do with Epstein and apologised for accepting money from him.

In a March 2011 interview, the duchess acknowledged accepting 15,000 from Epstein, called the association a "gigantic error of judgment" and said "I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children." The subsequent email to Epstein, excerpts of which have been published, says in part, "I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. 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." It adds that she had been "bedridden with fear" and "paralysed," and that she had been advised to avoid contact so as not to cause "more problems" for Epstein, the duke and herself.