Seth Wenig / AP Photo,Seth Wenig
It's been a rough couple of weeks for Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and his ex-wife, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson. The U.K. demoted Andrew from his post as trade ambassador for his ties to billionaire businessman—and convicted pedophile—Jeffrey Epstein. And now, Ferguson issued an apology Monday for letting Epstein pay back some of her debt. Ferguson admitted that Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, paid $24,000 to her former personal assistant, Johnny O'Sullivan. "I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me," she said in an interview with London's Evening Standard newspaper. "I abhor pedophilia 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 will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again."