Charities Cut Ties with Sarah Ferguson Following Epstein Email
Several charities in the United Kingdom have severed connections with Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, after the emergence of an email she reportedly sent to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In this email, Ferguson described Epstein as a “supreme friend,” prompting organizations to reassess her role as a patron.
Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, announced on March 4, 2024, that Ferguson’s reported correspondence made her continued patronage inappropriate. A spokesperson for the charity stated, “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity.” The charity thanked Ferguson for her past support.
Other organizations have followed suit. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and Prevent Breast Cancer have also distanced themselves from Ferguson due to the recent revelations. In a statement, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the food allergy charity, expressed their disturbance at the news, stating, “Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. We have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity.”
The Teenage Cancer Trust, which had maintained a relationship with Ferguson for 35 years, also ended her patronage.
The controversy stems from a 2011 interview Ferguson gave to the Evening Standard, where she apologized for accepting £15,000 from Epstein. In that interview, she stated, “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.” She further claimed, “Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
Despite her earlier statements, an email sent to Epstein shortly after the interview reportedly contained an apology for linking him to sexual abuse. Ferguson wrote, “you have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family,” according to reports by The Sun newspaper. The authenticity of this email has not been independently verified by the Associated Press.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while in custody facing federal sex trafficking charges, has remained a controversial figure. The revelation about Ferguson’s correspondence comes amid renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s connections to Epstein. It was reported recently that Andrew maintained communication with Epstein for five years longer than previously disclosed. Leaked emails indicated that Andrew was in touch with Epstein as late as 2015, despite claiming to have ceased contact in December 2010.
The ongoing controversies surrounding Andrew and Ferguson have raised concerns about their attempts to leverage royal connections for personal gain. Following a widely criticized BBC interview in 2019, Andrew stepped back from royal duties and charity roles. During the interview, he struggled to address his relationship with Epstein and faced backlash for lacking empathy towards Epstein’s victims.
The fallout from these revelations highlights the ongoing impact of Epstein’s actions and the complex relationships involving the British royal family. As charities and the public grapple with these developments, the scrutiny of Ferguson’s past associations continues to grow.
