Britain once adored exuberant Sarah Ferguson, the beaming redhead without the 1980s Windsor stiffness who could talk to anyone, boasting her devil-may-care chutzpah. In 2010 her cash-for-access scandal - offering to sell introductions to the then Prince Andrew for £500,000 - showed the world a darker, debt-stricken 'Fergie'. 

She was morphing into a prima donna, craving cash, chasing the princess lifestyle, drawn to wealth - with her once-natural ease replaced by elasticated scruples. Now the Epstein Files have seen the 66-year-old plunge into an abyss constructed of his vile depravity, but lined with her entitlement and greed - a deep cavern into which she's thrown her own poor daughters, to her eternal shame.

Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, are said to be "aghast" and "embarrassed" by what the files have revealed about their parents' relationship with "appalling" Epstein.

The sisters are staying "loyal to their parents in private while separating themselves in public", a royal source has said.

But it’s a loyalty hardly justified - as the files reveal Fergie was almost willing to 'hire out' her daughters to appease the whims of the convicted paedophile.

She shamelessly discussed her daughters' love and sex lives with her "pillar" of strength Epstein - while making barely disguised pleas for money.

Her lavish lifestyle and mounting debts (some millions of pounds of which the Queen reportedly paid to stave off royal embarrassment) led her into Epstein's arms.

In a 2011 interview, Fergie admitted she allowed Epstein to pay off £15,000 of her debts but stressed: "Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again."

Yet the Epstein files reveal in October 2009 she wrote to him: "I urgently need £20,000 for rent today. The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don’t pay. Any brainwaves?"

It is not known if he paid her the £20,000. But Epstein's support to Fergie was often not just simple cash.

On July 24, 2009, two days after her boss left prison, Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff asked him to approve payment for the Yorks' travel costs.

She wrote: "Regarding the flights for The Duchess and the girls from Heathrow to Miami and from NY to Heathrow: we are able to get the girls on economy round trip and The Duchess in business round trip. The girls flights total are $4835.94 and The Duchess' flights total $9244.16. Do I have your permission to purchase these tickets!?"

It is not known what Epstein replied or if he paid the bill - but Sarah and her daughters did make the trip to America.

Imagine any parent rushing their 19- and 20-year-old daughters into the welcoming embrace of a convicted child sex offender after he served 13 months for soliciting a minor for prostitution and soliciting prostitution.

It beggars belief.

A week later, Ferguson appeared to reference the US lunch they shared after his jail release in another email.

She gushed: "I have never been more touched by a friend's kindness than your compliment to me in front of my girls. Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for."

So with her cash problems and business failures, was Fergie sensibly trimming her costs? The Epstein files show not at all.

Instead they show glimpses of a life of privilege, as she reveals in one email she's in the south of France with the "perfect butler".

In August 2010 she penned: "I am wanting to work for you at organising your houses. I am in the south of France. I have the perfect butler." In a follow up email, she again pleads: "When are you going to employ me?"

Fergie then urged Epstein to "marry me" repeatedly. On September 17, 2009, she wrote about one woman: "You can marry her too. She is single and [sic] a great body". She added: "OK, well marry me and then we will employ her."

She clearly couldn't decide whether to marry the convicted paedophile or work for him.

Meanwhile it is clear how Epstein viewed her - almost like a lackey or an employee who was facilitating his access to the Royal Family.

In a message to "Ferg" in March 2010, Epstein tells her: "Thank you Sarah, could you are (sic) one of your daughters show (redacted) buckingham thanks."

An apparent reply from "Sarah" reads: "Of course."

In another email months later, Epstein contacted Fergie on July 1, 2010 saying his god-daughter Celina would be in London that week, asking if there was any chance of her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie - then aged 21 and 20 - "saying h=llo" (sic).

Ferguson replies two days later saying Beatrice is in London with Andrew, and "Eugie is away with cool boyfri=d." (sic).

But in the biggest betrayal of all, Epstein asked Ferguson about a possible upcoming trip to New York, to which she replied, "Not sure yet. Just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a shagging weekend!!"

Princess Eugenie was 19 years old at the time and was dating her now-husband, Jack Brooksbank, with whom she currently shares two children.

As if Eugenie was not mortified enough by her parents' actions - Andrew on all fours crouched over a woman lying on the floor - her mum scrapes underneath the bottom of the barrel.

Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and no emails have indicated any wrongdoing from Fergie either - however morally reprehensive some comments may be.

Fergie may forgive herself for her association with Epstein. Whether her daughters do, time will tell.