Sarah Ferguson's aide speaks out on 'menacing' Jeffrey Epstein threat to 'destroy' family

Sarah Ferguson has been left 'devastated' after an email she once set to Jeffrey Epstein has resurfaced, sparking a PR disaster.

The Duchess of York has been unceremoniously dropped by various charities she worked with over the email that has come to light. In the message, sent in 2011, she called Epstein a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend" and "humbly apologised" for criticism she had made of him in an interview just weeks earlier.

But an aide has claimed that Fergie only wrote the email after the convicted sex offender threatened to "destroy" her family.

Fergie, who has resolutely stood by ex-husband Prince Andrew's side since he was shunned from public life for his own links to the disgraced financier, now finds herself weathering the storm of yet another public scandal.

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Those close to her have come out to defend her, including a former aide, who revealed to the Telegraph that after Epstein read that Sarah had described him as a paedophile in an interview with the Evening Standard back in 2011, he went into "Hannibal Lecter" mode.

James Henderson claims he received a furious phone call from Epstein, in which the convicted sex offender threatened legal action against Sarah.

"People don't understand how terrible Epstein was. I can remember everything about that call," Henderson said. "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."

This was the only conversation the aide ever had with Epstein, but Henderson admitted that it made him so nervous he made sure to save the phone number, so he could avoid ever taking another call from the late billionare.

He also supported Fergie sending the email, saying that for the duchess, nothing would come before her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, and her desire to protect them.

"The pressure she was put under to protect her family must have been huge. I am sure there were legal actions," he added. "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."

Henderson isn't the only pal of the Duchess to come out to defend her amid the scandal. Her friend Lizzie Cundy - a reality TV star - said on the Jeremy Vine show that Sarah is "going through hell" as the email scandal unfolds.

"Well, she is obviously devastated, there is no one more sorry than Sarah Ferguson, she is regretful, she wishes she never met Jeffrey Epstein," Lizzie said.

"There are reasons she sent that email. The fact is, he was enraged that she'd publicly condemned him. He was absolutely, beyond saying 'I'm going to get revenge, I'm going to ruin your family.' It was threatening, very dark – and she felt she had no choice but to try and appease him because she was scared for herself, for her family.

"He was probably the most powerful man on the planet, one of the richest men. She was fooled by him like many others. Like The Clintons, Peter Mandelson and many others."

Many charities, for which Sarah was previously patron, have said they deem it "inappropriate" for her to continue in her roles, leading one PR expert to dub her brand as "toxic" - even noting it could lead to the loss of commercial ventures and "financial destitution".