The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has been dropped by seven charities following the publication of a 2011 email in which she referred to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as her “supreme friend” and appeared to apologise for publicly criticising him.
Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, was the first to sever ties, saying it was “inappropriate” for Ferguson to remain as patron. The Teenage Cancer Trust, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Children’s Literacy Charity, National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, Prevent Breast Cancer and the British Heart Foundation have since followed suit.
A spokesperson for Ferguson said she would not be commenting on the decisions. However, in response to the reports, her office explained that the email was sent under legal advice at a time when Epstein had threatened to sue her for defamation. “This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats,” the statement read, adding that she “really regretted any association with him.”
The message contradicted her earlier public statements, where she had described her involvement with Epstein as a “gigantic error of judgement” and said: “What he did was wrong and for which he was rightly jailed.”
Ferguson’s ties to charity work have been a significant part of her public profile. She had been a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust for 35 years and joined Prevent Breast Cancer in 2024 after her own treatment. She was also invited to support the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation when it was founded in 2019.
The fallout is seen as a major blow to Ferguson’s reputation, echoing the scandal that forced her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, to step down from royal duties after his own association with Epstein. The renewed focus on her connections comes amid ongoing pressure in the US for more details about Epstein’s network and communications.
The charities’ swift response underscores the damage caused by the resurfaced email, with critics saying her brand has been badly tarnished by her continued links to Epstein, despite his death in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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