Prince Andrew had ‘bitter fall-out with Jeffrey Epstein over notorious photo of them strolling together in New York
PRINCE Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein had a bitter falling out years before the paedophile’s suicide, it has been reported.
The royal has come under intense scrutiny for his friendship with the wealth financier, which continued after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for having sex with a minor.
The pair were pictured strolling together in December 2010 but they reportedly fell as a result of the photo.
Epstein was furious at them being dubbed “Prince & Perv”, three sources
That then led to flurry of stories about the Prince’s relationship with Epstein, including that his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, had borrowed £15,000 from the paedophile.
She called the loan a “gigantic error of judgment.”
“I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children,” she said at the time, saying she was “contrite” and vowing to have “nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
The Duchess of York’s statements further enraged Epstein, who fired back with angry threats of legal action – ultimately ending his lengthy friendship with the prince, according to CNN.
Ferguson’s publicist at the time, James Henderson, told the network about a “deeply unpleasant” phone call he got from Epstein threatening a defamation lawsuit.
EPSTEIN PIC FURY
“It was so unpleasant that I was left slightly rattled and I saved his number so I’d never have to take a call from him again,” Henderson told the network.
He says Epstein then sent the Duchess a legal letter, CNN reports.
Just last week, accuser Virginia Guiffre again repeated her claims that Epstein made her have sex with the Prince when she was 17, according to a “Dateline NBC” special.
MI6 now reportedly fear that Russia may have obtained scandal-related “kompromat” on the royal.
A previous Buckingham Palace statement has said: “The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes.
“His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.”
Ms Roberts’ claims have been struck from the court records in the US.
A version of this story appeared in the
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.