Sarah Ferguson ‘Is in a Bad Way’ Now After Her Daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Were Dragged Into Epstein Scandal

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson‘s names have been in the headlines for weeks now, but not for reasons either of them wanted. And now, it’s come out that they may have involved their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, in their bad behavior and shady association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Following growing calls from the public and pressures from other members of the royal family, Prince Andrew caved and gave up his Duke of York title.

He released a statement that read: “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”

With the disgraced prince relinquishing his Duke of York title, that meant that his former wife would no longer be known as the Duchess of York. The title would also no longer be attached to his daughters, who were born Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York. However, the women haven’t used their full titles much since they got married.

Now, it’s been revealed that the sisters were with their mother when she celebrated Epstein’s release from jail in 2009.

An email written by Epstein, dated in 2011, read: “[Sarah] took apartments in New York. She was the first to celebrate my release with her two daughters in tow. She visited me with [a] policeman sitting at my front desk. She has asked for help with her charities.”

A source close to Sarah said she and the princesses do not recall that visit. But new revelations allegedly show emails Fergie sent to Epstein in which she called him a “supreme friend” and issued an apology for disassociating herself from him when it emerged that he had bailed her out financially.

All the chatter about what she did or didn’t do, the fact that many charities have dropped her as patron, and what the court of public opinion thinks of her now, has taken a toll on Fergie.

Speaking to Women’s Day, royal expert Phil Dampier said he was told by a friend of Sarah’s that she “has been on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I can reveal her older sister, Jane, has recently flown over from Australia to comfort her in the U.K. Sarah is in a bad way and it’s hardly surprising. She needed support, and Jane has been there for her when she needed it. She and Andrew know they are to blame, but they still feel they are now being kicked mercilessly when they are down. It’s difficult to see what the future holds.”