The Duchess of York sent an apology email to Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 after the disgraced financier threatened to 'destroy her' in a 'Hannibal Lecter-style' phone call, according to her former spokesman.
James Henderson, who served as Sarah Ferguson's spokesperson at the time, told the Telegraph that Epstein was incensed by her public description of him as a paedophile. He made a 'chilling' call in which he threatened legal action and to destroy the York family.
In the email, reported by the Sun, Ferguson described Epstein as a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend' and 'humbly apologised' for criticising him. This followed an Evening Standard interview in March 2011 where she said she 'abhorred paedophilia' and called her association with Epstein a 'terrible error of judgment'.
Henderson said the pressure on Ferguson to protect her family 'must have been huge', adding that her family and children 'will always come first'. Several charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and Julia's House hospice, cut ties with the duchess after the email emerged.
Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
