Duchess sorry for pedophile debt payment
Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson has admitted to letting a pedophile pay off around £15,000 ($AU24,018) of her debts was a "gigantic error of judgement".
The Duchess apologised for the big mistake, admitting she accepted the money from billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting prostitution with an underage girl.
"I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me," Ms Ferguson said in the Evening Standard in the UK.
"I abhor pedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.
"I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again."
Ms Ferguson was given the money after former assistant John O'Sullivan made a claim for £78,000 ($AU124,871) from the Duchess for unpaid wages..
According to The Sun, Ms Ferguson never received any money directly, but it was all paid straight to Mr O'Sullivan and organised after discussions between the billionaire and Prince Andrews office.
The payment, which came about after Prince Andrew's office discussed the issue with Epstein, allowed Ms Ferguson to restructure her large £5million $AU8 million) debt - a debt she now says she's largely free of.
"The duke sorted out my debts and he and his office have been more than marvelous," Ms Ferguson said.
The admission came as further pressure was put on Prince Andrew's relationship with the pedophile after a photo emerged of the Dutch with one of Epstein's former underage masseuse.
There have been no claims the Duke was aware of the pedophilia at the time.
He received public support from British Prime Minister David Cameron's office despite the criticism.
A spokesperson for Mr Cameron said: "The Prime Minister thinks he is doing an important job and is making a major contribution and he is supportive of him in that role.
'We are not reviewing that role in any way. The Government's position is very clear: that we support him in his role as trade envoy.'
Ms Ferguson also backed her former husband, describing him as a "first rate" man and a "first rate" father.
"The duke is a man who does not know how to tell an untruth or behave dishonourably. There have been errors of judgment but nothing substantive has been done wrong by him, ever," she told the Evening Standard
