FILE - In this Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008 file photo Britain's Prince Andrew, gestures while speaking during a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As Buckingham Palace prepares to celebrate the wedding of Prince William, officials are
FILE - In this Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008 file photo Britain's Prince Andrew, gestures while speaking during a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As Buckingham Palace prepares to celebrate the wedding of Prince William, officials are rushing to contain a flurry of negative publicity from the side of the family that has long been a cause embarrassment. Prince Andrew, the queen's second son, is friends with a convicted sex offender _ pictures have been published of him with his arm around the waist of the teenage prostitute at the center of that case _ and his hosting of the son of the Tunisian dictator, shortly before a popular uprising drove him from power, has led to calls for him to be stripped of his role as special UK trade ambassador. Michel Euler, file, Associated Press
By Associated Press

LONDON — Prince Andrew's ex-wife has confirmed receiving financial help from a convicted U.S. sex offender, but says she had known nothing about his background and is vowing to return the money.

Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, said in an interview published Monday in the Evening Standard newspaper that she would repay the 15,000 pounds ($24,500) advanced by billionaire businessman Jeffrey Epstein to settle a debt to her former personal assistant, Johnny O'Sullivan.

The duchess is quoted as saying "I am just so contrite I cannot say."

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She says the payment was handled through Andrew's office, the duchess said, and she wasn't directly involved.

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