Overview

• An email dated April 26, 2011 shows Sarah, Duchess of York, apologising to Jeffrey Epstein and calling him a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend.”
• The message says she was “bedridden with fear,” had been advised not to contact him, and did not want to cause further trouble for Prince Andrew.
• The email was published by the Sun on Sunday and the Mail on Sunday after her March 7, 2011 interview pledging to have no further dealings with Epstein.
• Her spokesman says she sent the note to defuse threatened defamation action and maintains she later cut contact and publicly condemned Epstein once allegations became clear.
• The disclosure adds to renewed scrutiny driven by recent releases of Epstein-era correspondence, including reporting that cost Peter Mandelson his ambassador role this month.