Princess Beatrice escaped to New York last weekend to celebrate a close friend’s wedding – as her family was plunged into fresh crisis following a leaked email showing her mother, the Duchess of Yorkcalling paedophile Jeffrey Epstein a ‘supreme friend’ and appearing to apologise for her public criticism of him.

The King’s niece was among guests at the wedding of her long-time confidant James Green, 37, and James Hirschfeld, 39, the American co-founder of digital invitations company Paperless Post, in Long Island, New York.

The royal, who has known Green since they were teenagers, wore a sparkling black dress with her hair down, beaming while seated at a table next to the grooms – in photos shared on Instagram by a friend.

Other guests at the wedding included Kate Moss’s ex-boyfriend, photographer Count Nikolai von Bismarckhotelier Sir Rocco Forte’s daughter, Lydia Forte, and historian Mary Wellesley, daughter of the 9th Duke of Wellington.

The reception took place in the garden of the couple’s private home, where guests dined inside a large garden marquee with tables decorated ornately with flowers and candles.

Italian artist Malu dalla Piccola, who recently wed Greek shipping heir Nicolas Niarchos – son of British fashion muse Daphne Guinness – also shared details of her dish at the nuptials, which featured Porcini Mushroom Risotto, Branzino al Cartoccio, and Raspberry Pavlova.

Guests could choose between a white wine, Fattoria Sardi Bernardino Colline Lucchesi 2022, and the red, Livio Sassetti Livio Pertimali Chianti Classico 2022.

Between courses, Green, who wore a grey suit and teal tie, delivered a heartfelt speech with humorous moments that left guests, including Beatrice, roaring with laughter.

The older daughter of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, both 65, who were married for 10 years until 1996, was said to be in good spirits throughout the celebration.

Back home in the UK, the Duchess has not been seen in public for several weeks after a 2011 email she sent to Epstein resurfaced, in which she called him her ‘supreme friend’ and appeared to apologise for previously criticising him.

The message, written years after his conviction for child sex offences, has sparked outrage and led at least eight UK charities – including the British Heart Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust and Julia’s House – to drop her as a patron.

Fergie is now understood to be lying low at Royal Lodge in Windsor, which she still shares with her ex-husband, as she faces one of the most serious reputational crises of her life.

Her biographer Ingrid Seward said this week: ‘This time she is probably going to have to do what she’s never done before and lie low for quite a while.’

Andrew has also, again, been linked to the disgraced financier through newly released ‘Epstein Files’ – a cache of flight manifests, phone messages and financial records made public by US lawmakers last week.

The documents include details of a trip Andrew made with Epstein in 2000, while on an official visit for the NSPCC, intensifying questions about the nature of their relationship.

‘Beatrice is going through a lot right now. It’s a very hard time for her, but she was determined to be there for her friend,’ a source said.

‘She has known James for over two decades and friendship is one of the most important things to her. Beatrice would never want to let a friend down – especially if that meant skipping a huge milestone like this.’

Beatrice and Green were first photographed together in 2004 at the Queens Club in London as they watched the semi-final matches at the Stella Artois Tennis Championships. They have remained part of the same London and New York social set ever since.

Several members of their social circle attended the Saturday wedding, including Alexa Hirschfeld, sister of the groom and co-founder of Paperless Post, who wore a lime-green dress with sheer sleeves.

After dinner, guests were treated to live music including a beautiful rendition of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), the 1966 hit song by Cher.

Following the recent bombshell email leak, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, are understood to have withdrawn from Windsor, with friends describing them as ‘deeply upset and ashamed’ by the continuing scandal.

Royal insiders also say King Charles has further distanced himself from Prince Andrew and Fergie, with royal commentators warning that the York brand has become ‘toxic’.

On Monday, a palace insider told Radar Online that while Beatrice and Eugenie remain devoted to their parents, they are ‘exhausted’ by the drama and ‘barely holding it together’.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Beatrice, who was once tipped to play a greater role in royal life, has now ‘lost all hope’ of becoming a working royal amid the deepening crisis.

Beatrice, who works in finance, divides her time between London and Oxfordshire with her husband, property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 41, and their two children, Sienna, four, and Athena, ten months.

She and sister Eugenie, who is a director at the modern art gallery Hauser & Wirth, are said to be focusing on their families and careers.

Last week, Eugenie, who shares two children with husband Jack Brooksbank, was appointed patron of Arts Works, a British-based charity that aims to give young people living in the UK access into the creative sector by offering work placement and training.

Following the leaked email, Prince Andrew remains excluded from royal duties while insiders say neither he nor Fergie is expected to attend the family’s Christmas gathering at Sandringham this year.

Royal commentator Phil Dampier told the Daily Mail that Beatrice and Eugenie’s position is ‘deeply painful’.

He added: ‘The King has a soft spot for them, but the shadow cast by their parents means they are unlikely to be involved in any new royal projects for some time.’

Elsewhere, another insider told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Beatrice does want to be a working Royal and she wants to do Royal events to help her uncle because she’d enjoy them and she would be good at the job.

‘Charles apparently appreciates this… There had at one stage been a feeling that Bea could have been lined up one day. She’s never put a foot wrong, don’t forget – and she shouldn’t be punished for the sins of her father.

‘But the King’s courtiers are concerned Andrew could try to “get in via the back door” by exerting influence over her.’