In one email exchange from 2009, the then Duchess of York updated Epstein on potential opportunities for her business brands and books.
“In just one week, after your lunch, it seems the energy has lifted”, she wrote.
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“I have never been more touched by a friends [sic] kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls.
“Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for.”
The next year, in another email between “Sarah” and Epstein she calls him a “legend” and describes her “gratitude” for him.
She added: “Xx I am at your service . Just marry me.”
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Handout photo of Sarah Ferguson (centre) released in the latest tranche of the Epstein files (DOJ)
Another email exchange believed to be from Epstein to three others, including his publicist, in March 2011 said: “I think Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo.”
It adds: “She was DUPED into believeing [sic] false stories.”
At the time, Epstein had been accused of abusing dozens of teenage girls between 1999 and 2007. He avoided federal sex trafficking charges and served 13 months in jail for lesser state charges of soliciting prostitution from someone under 18 in 2008.
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Emails show Epstein’s publicist at the time Mike Sitrick said they have a strategy to “get newspapers to stop calling you a pedophile” and one was to get “Fergie to retract”.
“Sarah” emailed Epstein a month later saying she “did not” and “would not” call him a “P”, and that she had acted to “protect my own brand”.
In 2009, Ferguson wrote to Epstein and said: “I urgently need 20,000 pounds ($27,521) for rent today.
“The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don’t pay. Any brainwaves?”
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The email exchange started between Epstein and David Stern, a lawyer and former commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US, who shared a copy of an ABC article questioning if Ferguson’s finances were in “jeopardy”.
Epstein suggests the leak could come from “disgruntled investors” and Ferguson replies confirming an investor has “broken a confidentiality agreement”.
Although the email chain appears to end once she explains that she needs money for rent, elsewhere an email from Epstein claims to have helped her financially for 15 years.
In several emails, Ferguson’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are named, including Epstein asking if they are free to say hello in July 2010.
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Emails in July 2009 also indicate a lunch was held between Ferguson, her daughters and Epstein.
Epstein was invited to several events involving the royal family giving him access to British high society.
Both Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will soon move out of the Royal Lodge after their connections with Jeffrey Epstein were fully realised (PA)
Then Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk wrote to Epstein on behalf of Ferguson in February 2010, to invite him to Andrew’s 50th birthday party at St James’s Palace in London.
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Another email from Epstein to hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin in 2009 claims “fergie said she could organize tea in the buckingham palace apts.. or windsor castle” [sic].
A message sent by Ferguson to Epstein congratulating the paedophile on the birth of a “baby boy” after he was released from jail in 2011, suggests he had a secret child, The Telegraph reported.
“Don’t know if you are still on this BBM but heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy. Even though you never kept in touch, I am still here with love, friendship and congratulations on your baby boy. Sarah xx,” she said in the message sent 15 years ago.
But it has never been established if Epstein had any children.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose titles have already been stripped, will soon move out of the Royal Lodge. His ex-wife Ferguson will also need to move home and has already been dropped by several charities over her links to Epstein.
Representatives of Sarah Ferguson declined to comment, but a spokesman for Sarah’s Trust said on Monday evening that the charity would close for the foreseeable future.
They said: “Our chair Sarah Ferguson and the board of trustees have agreed that with regret the charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future.
“This has been under discussion and in train for some months,” the statement continued. “We remain extremely proud of the work of the trust over recent years.
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“We have partnered with over 60 other charities in over 20 countries, providing education, healthcare, crisis response and environmental projects.
“We delivered over 150,000 aid parcels during the Covid pandemic, provided medical aid and training for those affected by the war in Ukraine and delivered education for over 200 children in Ghana.”
The health food store will be closing at the end of April
A major high street brand will be closing a store in a Cambridgeshire town. Holland & Barrett has confirmed it will be closing its location on Broad Street in March on Wednesday, April 22.
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The health food store will be closing as part of an ongoing £70 million investment to “transform” the brand’s stores. The investment will include opening and renovating over 200 new locations across the UK. The Holland & Barrett store in March will remain open as usual until April 22.
A spokesperson for Holland and Barrett said: “The Holland & Barrett store in March will close on the 22nd April. This is part of an ongoing £70 million investment into transforming our stores, which includes opening and renovating more than 200 new locations nationwide.
“In the meantime, the store is open as usual, bringing expert-led advice alongside our range of science-backed products and services to our customers. Opening hours are available on our website, which also offers our full range of wellness solutions, plus links to health and wellbeing advice, and free 15-minute one-to-one appointments with our Body Qualified Experts.”
To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community.Click this linkto receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.
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We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.
Just because the warm weather hits, that doesn’t stop people from getting their exercise. Running has emerged in recent years as one of London’s biggest sports, with Gen Z out in front pounding the pavements on a regular basis. That’s not forgetting those prepared to go the extra mile (or 20-odd): over 1.1 million people applied to take part in the 2026 London Marathon, and there are now plans to make it a two-day event in 2027.
So it’s clear, we’re a city of runners. However, as this week brings the warmest day of the year so far, there’s a real danger of those same runners overheating during as they try and get their kilometres in.
Fortunately, with a bit of prep, it can be avoided. We chatted to ultra-runner and co-founder of Black Trail Runners, Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, and Tom Bishop, a seasoned runner who broke the record for the ironman triathlon in 2024 (previously held by Alistair Brownlee), on how to beat the heat.
More than 1.1 million applicants put their names down for the 2026 London Marathon
PA Wire
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For Bishop, keeping cool before a run or race is key. “Starting with your core temperature as low as you can will give your body more chance to run in hot conditions, rather than starting hot and flustered,” he says.
“Try to relax, find shade and keep your warmup minimal. Of course warming up is still important, but in the heat, you don’t need to push it as much.” To lower the body temperature even further, consider sipping on an icy drink, or slushie, before you go for a run or do a race.
The most efficient way to hydrate, especially before a run, is by sipping fluids regularly during the day, rather than in one go. According to Pace-Humphreys, it’s “far more effective than panicking and overloading because you forgot. Little and often keeps your body balanced – downing huge amounts in one go won’t provide the same benefits.”
If you want, you can tuck some fabric into the back of your sunhat to form a protective barrier for your beck and shoulders. Don’t forget sun cream too: skincare brand Dussl has a good selection of factor 50 sun creams that also double up as moisturisers, block pollution, and will stay on through the sweat of a hot run.
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A person runs across the Millennium Bridge in London
Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
One of the biggest dangers during a hot run is – you guessed it – overheating, which comes with symptoms like dizziness, sickness and a rapid heart rate. In hot weather, it’s important not to push yourself: instead, listen to your body.
“Your body will tell you what it needs but only if you have the patience to listen,” Pace-Humphreys says. “Whether it’s watching your heart rate zones creep into the red, or just sensing that things feel harder than they should, tune in. Slow down to a jog or alternate walking and running – there’s no shame in preserving energy to avoid burnout.”
It’s also important to know what to do when you are overheating. “If you feel your body temperature rising, pull it back and breathe through it,” she says. “Give box breathing a go – inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 4 and exhaling for 4. This can help calm your mind, reduce anxiety and lower your heart rate.”
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In the heat, appetite can dip – which makes staying hydrated and properly fuelled tricky, too.
“Liquid carbs can be a real help. Whether they’re shop-bought or even just half juice, half water, having a liquid option can help keep your energy up when solid food isn’t appealing,” Pace-Humphreys says.
Plus, do invest in some electrolytes, which will replace the essential minerals and salts that your body is sweating out. Don’t overdo it, though: “overdoing electrolytes can cause frequent toilet stops, nausea and diarrhoea – I’ve been there! If that happens, ease off, dilute with water, and give your body time to recalibrate.”
Make time to cool down afterwards
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Once you’ve finished the run, that’s not it. Give the body time to cool down. Sit, or stretch it out, in the shade, and let the breath return to normal. And use the cooldown as a chance to get some water in you – hydrating little and often, of course.
Passengers, regardless of airline, may need to be prepared for some changes
Passengers set to fly soon with easyJet have been urged to stay prepared ahead of changes to travel. On an update on its website on April 1 of this year, easyJet notes that in an “important update”, there are “new border checks may affect queue times.”
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It explains: “Airports across Europe may experience longer queues at passport control whilst the new European Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks are being completed. This will mean you may need to have your biometrics taken including your face and fingerprints scanned.”
With this in mind, it is wise for passengers to be patient as the new system is rolled out.
The budget airline suggests:
Plan your travel to and through the airport, as you may experience longer queues
If you need to go to Bag Drop, go there as soon as it opens
Make your way through security as early as possible
There may be additional checks at passport control before your gate
Head to the gate or boarding area as soon as it’s announced
Make sure you have the correct documents to travel
You may experience longer queues in your arrival airport
What is EES and why is it being introduced?
An EES-dedicated website says: “The new Entry/Exit System (EES) started to be operational on 12 October 2025. European countries using the EES are introducing the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.”
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It is being introduced as the EES:
Modernises border checks and gradually reduces waiting times at the borders.
Easily identifies non-EU nationals who do not fulfil the conditions of entry and stay or those who stay longer than permitted in the Schengen area.
Enhances the security of Europe’s borders.
Which European countries use the EES?
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia,
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
the Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
You can find out more information about EES here. You can also read about it online via the GOV.UK website.
What horse racing fans can expect when they want refreshment at the Grand National meeting
15:01, 08 Apr 2026Updated 15:01, 08 Apr 2026
The Randox Grand National Festival is about to get underway. From Thursday, April 9 to Saturday, April 11, thousands of racing enthusiasts will flock to Aintree Racecourse for three days of top-class horse racing, culminating in the main event.
As the finishing touches are put to the venue, we can reveal some of the beverage prices for the festival. There are numerous bars throughout the racecourse, so drink prices may differ depending on your choice of refreshment.
Below, we’ve outlined the typical prices for draught, bottled and canned drinks, wines, champagne and spirits. Some outlets vary by approximately 50p…
Traditional shuttlecocks are made of 16 duck or goose feathers – each taken from the same wing to give the correct flight and spin as feathers from different wings curve differently.
China is the leading producer of shuttlecocks, but poultry production in the country has decreased in recent years because of outbreaks of bird flu and as people return to eating pork following an outbreak of African swine fever in 2018.
The sport has also grown in popularity in China, leading to increased demand.
Last year, the BWF played down its concerns about the shuttlecock market, while explaining its strategy to explore alternatives.
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“We are aware of the global supply chain challenges and subsequent increases in feathered shuttlecock prices impacting badminton communities around the world,” BWF secretary general Thomas Lund said in a statement at the time.
“Our testing and trialling programmes for the production and introduction of competition and social-use synthetic shuttlecocks in collaboration with the manufacturers remains in place and is firmly part of our sustainability strategies for the future.”
QVC, owned by the QVC Group, was founded in 1986 in the US and has since grown into a multinational corporation, specialising in televised home shopping.
Launching in the UK in October 1993, QVC became the UK’s first full-time home shopping channel.
Now, the channel is on the brink of collapse, with it now in discussions with creditors after reports suggest it missed a regulatory filing deadline.
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What is the QVC channel?
QVC UK was originally 20% owned by Sky, before it became a wholly owned subsidiary of the US broadcaster in 2004.
In its early years, it turned over a net profit of more than £12 million and has sold various products from cooking supplies to clothing.
In 2008, QVC UK launched a multiscreen video service with three video streams available to Sky viewers via the red button:
QVC Live
QVC+1
Today’s Special Value presentation
QVC UK also operates three channels made up mostly of rerun segments from the live channel, QVC Beauty, QVC Extra and QVC Style.
The main channel broadcasts live 364 days a year from 9am to 1am, with rerun segments from the live channel shown during other hours and Christmas Day.
Shopping channel QVC at risk of collapse after 32 years
QVC Group is reportedly late with a regulatory filing deadline and is in discussions to voluntarily restructure its debt, according to Bloomberg.
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In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the parent company of QVC and HSN said it was unable to submit its annual financial report on time “without unreasonable effort or expense”.
QVC Group CFO Bill Wafford has confirmed that uncertainty linked to those negotiations has delayed the preparation of its financial statements.
The company has also warned about a “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating.
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The QVC Group previously highlighted $2.9 billion (£2.2 billion) in debt due in October.
QVC Group intends to file its delayed results within 15 days, Broadband TV News reports.
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It has also been rumoured that any potential bankruptcy filing is expected to be a Chapter 11 protection.
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This would allow the company to restructure its debt while continuing operations, rather than liquidation.
Newsquest has contacted The QVC Group for comment.
Are you a fan of shopping channels like QVC? Let us know in the comments.
The council said the plans would provide ‘poor standards’ of homes for future occupiers
Plans to build four new homes have been refused due to “cramped living” conditions. Fern Homes proposed to build the homes at Gaul Tree Farm in High Road, Guyhirn, Wisbech.
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The developers said the plans would provide “four good-sized dwellings for private use within the village assisting in community cohesion”. Off-road parking was also proposed, as well as landscaping.
Fenland District Council has refused the plans. FDC planning officers said it went against a development requirement to “deliver high quality environments by promoting high levels of residential amenity”.
It said the homes would provide a “poor standard of accommodation for future occupiers”. The council added: “The internal layout and floorspace of the dwellings would result in a cramped living arrangement, and the level of private amenity space provided is inadequate.
“These deficiencies would result in a substandard living environment, harmful to the residential amenity of future occupants.” The council also said the developers failed to provide a specific flood risk assessment.
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The planning officer added the application “fails to demonstrate, through a robust and site-specific flood risk assessment and breach analysis, that the development would be safe for its lifetime, without increasing flood risk elsewhere.”
Without a report, the officer said it didn’t demonstrate that future occupiers would be “safe from flood hazards”. Plans have previously been refused on the same site.
In 2024, plans were submitted to build seven homes on the site. The council refused on the basis it would provide a “poor outlook” for future homeowners, proposed gardens weren’t big enough, and there would be “potential noise and disturbance given the lack of separation” between the homes.
Dogs Trust Darlington has issued a warning that even mild temperatures pose a danger to dogs, with around 75 per cent of heatstroke cases linked to exercise and around two-thirds occurring after everyday walks.
Charlie Dobson, senior veterinary surgeon at Dogs Trust, said: “For many of us across the country, the arrival of warmer weather is a welcome change, but it is important to remember that this weather can bring real dangers for our dogs.
“Even the springtime sunshine expected over the next few weeks can cause serious issues, especially for flat-faced breeds or dogs with underlying health conditions.
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“The best thing we can do for our pets is to avoid walking them during the hottest parts of the day, provide plenty of fresh water and shade, and always monitor them closely for early symptoms of heatstroke, even during indoor play when it’s warm outside.
“If you notice your dog is overheating, cooling first aid before transporting them to the vet can be lifesaving.
“Warmer weather can be wonderful for us and our four-legged friends, as long as we stay aware and take the right care to keep everyone safe.”
Dogs Trust warns that heatstroke can affect dogs at any time of year, not just during extreme summer heat.
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Symptoms include heavy panting, lethargy, excessive drooling, uncoordinated movement, and vomiting or diarrhoea.
Certain breeds, especially flat-faced dogs like Pugs and French Bulldogs, are at greater risk, along with older dogs, overweight dogs, and those with thick coats or underlying health conditions.
If you suspect a dog is suffering from heatstroke, Dogs Trust advises stopping activity, moving the dog to a cool area, offering drinking water, and beginning urgent cooling with cold water before transporting to a vet.
Owners are also reminded never to leave dogs alone in cars, as temperatures can rise rapidly and become fatal.
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On a 22°C day, the temperature inside a car could rise by 11°C in just 10 minutes.
If you see a dog in distress inside a vehicle, call 999 immediately.
Drivers have taken to the streets in slow-moving convoys for a second day in protest at rising fuel prices
13:46, 08 Apr 2026Updated 13:48, 08 Apr 2026
A number of public transport providers have warned passengers travelling on their services to Dublin Airport to allow extra time for their journeys, as one commuter from Northern Ireland told how it took five hours to travel from Belfast to the airport on Tuesday.
Slow-moving convoys have taken to the streets of Dublin for a second day in protest at rising fuel prices as a result of the US and Israel’s war in Iran.
Fuel prices in the Republic of Ireland have soared to around €1.91 (£1.66) per litre of petrol and €2.14 (£1.86) per litre of diesel.
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Last month, the Irish Government announced that excise duty on diesel will be reduced by 20 cents per litre and petrol by 15 cents per litre.
As the protests continue, Gardaí have warned of possible road blocks to Dublin Airport and the Port Tunnel.
One commuter told Belfast Live how they endured a five-hour journey to the airport on Tuesday, April, amid ongoing protests blocking roads.
The person, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It took five hours to get to the airport from Belfast, and we ended up missing our flight; it was a disaster.”
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In a social media post, Dublin Airport said: “Passengers travelling to and from Dublin Airport today are advised to allow extra time for their journey due to the possibility of protest activity causing traffic disruption on roads around the airport.”
A spokesperson for Dublin Express said: “There are a number of delays and diversions to Dublin Express services due to the ongoing disruption in Dublin city centre. We are advising customers to allow significant extra time for their journeys and to check our social media channels @dublinexpress for the latest updates to services.”
A Translink spokesperson added: “Due to fuel price protests in the Dublin area, there has been some disruption to Translink coach services to Dublin / Dublin Airport today.
“Customers using these services should leave extra time for their journey and keep up to date with the latest travel alerts on the Translink website – https://www.translink.co.uk/service-incidents and via Socials.”
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This comes as oil prices plummeted overnight after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Responding to the latest developments in the Middle East, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said: “I welcome events overnight which mark a potentially important turning point after what was a dangerous and unprecedented escalation across the Middle East in recent days. I also welcome the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire and to enter negotiations. This offers a critical opportunity to reduce tensions and will bring relief to millions affected by conflict.
“I commend the efforts of Pakistan, alongside Türkiye and Egypt, in supporting dialogue. Ireland has consistently called for diplomacy and for all parties to uphold international law.
“Any ceasefire must be comprehensive and include Lebanon, and I call on Hezbollah and Israel to cease attacks and military operations.
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“The Strait of Hormuz must open and remain safe to pass. The protection of civilians must remain paramount, and all parties must uphold their obligations under international law.
“I urge all parties to de-escalate and engage in negotiations towards a durable ceasefire and a lasting, peaceful resolution.”
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