A STRING of charities have dropped Sarah Ferguson as patron after it emerged she sent a grovelling email apology to disgraced paedo Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duchess of York was axed by children’s charity Julia’s House this morning after it was revealed she emailed the millionaire paedo in 2011 – weeks after pledging never to contact him again.
A total of seven charities have now sacked the royal after a close pal said she wrote the email at a time when she had been threatened with legal action by Epstein.
Fergie said sorry to Jeffrey Epstein after linking him to paedophilia in an interview, telling him: “I did not use the P word about you”.
Following the shock revelations, Julia’s House, confirmed their decision to remove the Duchess as patron.
She has now also been removed by the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.
It is understood the Teenage Cancer Trust has also dropped her from her position as patron.
In a statement, Prevent Breast Cancer said: “The Duchess of York is no longer a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer.
“We have advised her of this decision and thank her for her past support.”
In a another blow, The Children’s Literacy Charity has removed her as patron.
And it was announced today that The British Heart Foundation has cut ties with the Duchess.
A spokesperson for The Children’s Literacy Charity said it would be “inappropriate” for her to hold the role due to “recent information come to light”.
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A British Heart Foundation Spokesperson said: “Sarah, Duchess of York, is no longer serving as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation.
“We are grateful for the duchess’ support for our work and thank her for her past efforts to help us save and improve lives by funding pioneering research into cardiovascular disease.”
Julia’s House said earlier today: “Following 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.”
The Duchess was a patron of The Teenage Cancer Trust for 35 years but was dropped today.
It comes following the disclosure of emails in which she described paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend.”
In the interview published in March 2011, the Duchess of York apologised for having accepted £15,000 from Epstein – a long-time associate of her ex-husband Prince Andrew.
She said: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.
“Whenever I can, I will repay the money and will have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
But just over a month later, on April 26, the Duchess secretly wrote to Epstein from her personal email address.
The email read: “As you know I did not, absolutely not, say the P (paedophile) word about you.
“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 comes as signing events for Fergie’s new children’s picture book have also been cancelled.
She had been due to give readings from her new book, Flora & Fern, Kindness Along The Way, at events across the UK next month.
But engagements at Waterstones, in Kensington, central London, and Chorleywood Bookshop, in Hertfordshire, are no longer taking place.
Tickets for the Chorleywood Bookshop event to mark Bookshop Day had been on sale for £12.99 plus booking fees.
The ticket included a copy of the book and a chance to have it signed by the Duchess, as well as pose for a photo with her.
But the ticket link has now been removed and a notice on the Waterstone’s website today states: “This event has been cancelled.”
The email lays bare how evil Epstein was able to exert powerful influence over the Duke of York and his family via his vast wealth.
Fergie 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.”
A close friend of Fergie insisted she wrote the email when she had been threatened by aggressive legal action by Epstein.
The pal said: “The threats from Epstein were extremely aggressive and unpleasant.
“He was furious she had done the right thing and condemned him publicly, and wanted revenge.
“She felt she had no option but to write in the way she did — trying to appease him and make it all go away.”
A spokesman for the Duchess said: “The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago.
“As they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. 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.
“She does not shrink back from anything she said then.
“This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”
The Duchess is the latest public figure to be dragged into the Epstein scandal.
It has dogged her ex-husband, Andrew, for more than a decade and ended his career as a working royal.
The Duke of York was a long-time friend of Epstein and continued to communicate with him after his conviction in Florida.
Epstein was facing 45 years in jail after being charged in July 2019 with the sex-trafficking of underage girls.
He was remanded into custody but a month later he was found hanged from his bedsheets in his prison cell in New York.
Last week, a top Jeffrey Epstein inquisitor put Prince Andrew on notice – warning he would publish files about the disgraced Royal.
Top Republican congressman James Comer vowed to make public any communication or financial information involving the Duke of York.
Comer, who is sifting through tens of thousands of documents relating to the dead paedo, said: “Anything we get we will publish.”
Earlier this month, a tranche of documents from the probe saw Britain’s Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson sacked.
The Labour peer was eventually axed after a cringeworthy letter he wrote the late banker was released.
Speaking on an episode of Harry Cole Saves The West, Comer revealed a fresh cache of docs is due for release within days.
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