Sarah Ferguson’s longtime PR adviser has spoken out in her defence as the Duchess of York faces fresh scrutiny over her links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whom she once described as her “supreme friend.”
James Henderson, now living in Dubai, said: “We have both been loyal to each other. We have both had empathy and understanding.
“The mental impact of losing everything, and losing a reputation, is something that we could bond over. Few people lose their reputations to that extent. She has had battle after battle after battle.”
Mr Henderson continued to tell The Telegraph: “Her loyalty to me has been exceptional. And she has done so much for so many people, most of which is not written about or appreciated.”
Sarah Ferguson’s aide rushes to Duchess of York’s defence following weeks of turmoil
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The PR executive previously headed the London-based firm Bell Pottinger, which collapsed in 2017.
He became close to the Duchess in 2010, when she was caught on camera offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000 during a News of the World sting.
Mr Henderson was brought in to provide crisis management when her public standing was “at rock bottom,” and said their friendship deepened after that period so that “when Bell Pottinger happened, her loyalty was there for me.”
The PR chief described Fergie as “the most generous person in the room” and “an amazing mother,” insisting she remains a steadfast friend.
James Henderson pictured in London in 2020
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His comments come after it was revealed that Sarah wrote a private email to Epstein in 2011 apologising for publicly cutting ties with him.
The message, sent just weeks after she vowed never to associate with him again, called Epstein a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” and admitted she only distanced herself to protect her career as a children’s author.
The Duchess said the note came “from the truth of my heart” and “humbly apologised” for letting him down.
Friends of the Duchess say she was “devastated for any embarrassment” caused and “will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course.”
Mr Henderson said the email followed a “really menacing and nasty” call from Epstein, describing his tone as a “Hannibal Lecter-type voice.”
Fergie had recently re-established ties with the Royal Family, joining Christmas celebrations in 2023 for the first time in three decades and walking to church at Sandringham alongside Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Her ex-husband stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after a disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein and allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein and abused by Andrew when she was 17.
Andrew, who denied the claims, reached a reported £12million out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, who died in April aged 41.
The controversy has intensified after US Congressional Democrats released documents on Friday containing Epstein’s phone records, flight manifests and financial ledgers, which mention Andrew and billionaire Elon Musk among others.