The controversy dates back to May 2010 when Sarah was covertly filmed by the now-defunct News of the World newspaper, offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000 to a disguised reporter posing as an Indian businessman. This scandalous event proved challenging during the interview, prompting Sarah to exit shortly after Usher questioned her about it. She later returned to continue the conversation. 60 Minutes Australia shared this footage on Instagram after charities ended their association with Sarah on Monday, following the disclosure of her apologetic email to Epstein, written in April 2011, despite previously disowning him publicly. One such organization was the Teenage Cancer Trust, which withdrew her patronage of 35 years.

The apology to Epstein described him as a ‘supreme friend’ following his threat to ‘destroy’ her family in what was described as a menacing call. At that time, spokesperson James Henderson explained that the email was a reaction to an intimidating call from the offender, noted for having a ‘Hannibal Lecter-type voice,’ as reported by the Telegraph. Prior to her apology, Sarah was recorded in May 2010, candidly discussing a transaction for access to Prince Andrew. When questioned by Usher about accepting cash, she confirmed: ‘Absolutely yes, it was given to me and I got it in the car and then returned it straight away.’

Usher further probed, ‘Once the scandal broke?’ With apparent irritation, Sarah replied, ‘As soon as I knew it was a scandal, not once it broke, Michael. Don’t try and trick me now because I am not going to play this game. Delete that bit. I don’t want to go down this route.’ The Duchess then addressed her agent off-screen, signaling her reluctance to continue answering such queries. Upon persuasion, she resumed the interview, admitting, ‘I was very grateful for being in that position in a way, because when I hit rock bottom it woke me up.’ Interrupted, she glanced at her agent, saying, ‘remember, remember, Cindy, yeah.. I am going to take five minutes.’

Dramatically, Sarah stood and left the interview, only to return later, although she remained cool towards Usher. During a December 2024 radio interview, Usher discussed this awkward encounter. On Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, he remarked, ‘I had to call her Duchess. She wouldn’t let me call her Sarah, lots and lots of airs and graces.’ Despite initial politeness, he noted a sudden change, recalling the challenge of coaxing her back to complete the interview.

Post-interview, Usher recounted Sarah unexpectedly chasing after him and his crew. ‘We walked outside, and the Duchess came running up behind me. She chucked her heels off and she’s in her stockings on the lawn. Going “Michael, how was that?”‘ he recalled advising her to redo the interview. Instead, she shifted focus to signing books. John Scott, representing Sarah in Australia, alleged at the time that the footage was taken out of context, demanding the network withdraw its promotional content and remove parts of the interview.

He told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper: ‘We had gone through all the questions and subject matter beforehand and filmed all the walking in the park footage before we sat down. ‘She did walk out when she was ambushed – no, it was entrapment – but after cooling down she said to me, “[Expletive] them, let’s do this”, and she did, but it was a banal interview and her demeanor reflected that.’ John said Sarah was shocked when asked to watch the News of the World footage again during the 60 Minutes interview and claimed it was ‘unnecessary’, because she had obviously already seen it and had agreed to answer questions about it. But 60 Minutes producer Mr Thomson said: ‘She agreed to talk about the issue, as she has already extensively done, so it certainly wasn’t entrapment.’

The shocking interview has been shared online this week after several charities severed ties with her on Monday once it had emerged she apologized to [child predator] financier Epstein in April 2011 after publicly disowning him in the media. Among the organizations to end their relationship with the Duchess after the email came to light was Wiltshire and Dorset-based children’s hospice Julia’s House, Prevent Breast Cancer, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals. The British Heart Foundation also said Sarah was no longer a serving ambassador for the charity. Julia’s House said it would be ‘inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity’ – citing her correspondence with Epstein as a deciding factor.

Meanwhile founders of food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation said they were ‘disturbed’ to read her correspondence with him. Sarah also resigned from the Youth Impact Council, a US-based charity that helps young people. James Henderson, the Duchess’s spokesperson at the time, told The Telegraph: ‘People don’t understand how terrible Epstein was. I can remember everything about that call. ‘It was a chilling call and I’m surprised anybody was ever friends with him given the way he talked to me. ‘He said he would destroy the York family and he was quite clear on that. He said he would destroy me. He wasn’t shouting. ‘He had a Hannibal Lecter-type voice. It was very cold and calm and really menacing and nasty.’

He continued: ‘The pressure she was put under to protect her family must have been huge. I am sure there were legal actions. ‘And this was long before the Duke’s life had been ruined by his association with Epstein. It was 14 years ago and everyone will do what they have to do to protect their family. Her family and children will always come first for her.’ The phone call reportedly took place in the wake of the duchess’s interview with the Evening Standard on March 7 2011, in which she apologised for accepting £15,000 from Epstein. During the interview, Sarah told the newspaper: ‘I abhor paedophilia 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 have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.’ A little over a month later, the Duchess sent a message to Epstein, reported by The Mail on Sunday, in which she said: ‘I know you feel hellaciously let down by me.

‘And I must humbly apologize to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.’ It continued: ‘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.’ Following the announcements by the charities on Monday, family members of Virginia Giuffre praised their ‘decisive action’ by cutting ties with Sarah. Ms Giuffre, who died in Western Australia in April aged 41, was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted [sexual] offenders Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. 

In 2022, she settled a lawsuit against Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein. He denied the claim and ever meeting Ms Giuffre. American-born Ms Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, and her sister-in-law Amanda Roberts, said in a statement: ‘It is commendable that these seven charities have cut ties with Sarah Ferguson in light of her connections to Epstein. ‘This decisive action sends a strong message about accountability and the need to confront those who support the horrific child trafficking network established by Epstein and Maxwell.’

They added: ‘It raises important questions about our own efforts in America. Are we doing enough to condemn those complicit in these crimes? ‘We should follow the example set by these organizations and take meaningful steps to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice.’ Ms Giuffre was ‘systematically failed by nearly every powerful institution that was meant to protect her’, they said, before commending the ‘forceful response’ from the charities. They added: ‘In absence of governmental accountability, we urgently need stronger public condemnation of the men and women involved in propping up Epstein’s horrific child [sexual] trafficking network here in America to begin pursuing real justice.’ Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a [self-murder].