Seven charities have ended their support for the Duchess of York after a 2011 email showed her referring to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as her “supreme friend” and apologizing for speaking out against him publicly. BBC
Seven charities have ended their links with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. This followed the release of a 2011 email where she called convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein her “supreme friend.” In the email, she also appeared to apologise for publicly criticising him.
Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, was the first charity to remove her. The organisation said it found it “inappropriate” for her to continue as patron. Other groups to cut ties include the Teenage Cancer Trust, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Children’s Literacy Charity, National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, and Prevent Breast Cancer. The British Heart Foundation also stopped her role as ambassador.
Email contradicts public statements
The email was sent after Ferguson had publicly claimed she cut off contact with Epstein. In it, she described him as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” This conflicts with a public interview where she called her association with Epstein a “gigantic error of judgement.” She also said, “What he did was wrong and for which he was rightly jailed.” Ferguson had promised to have “nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
Her spokesperson said the email was sent under advice to calm Epstein, who threatened to sue her for defamation. The spokesperson added that Ferguson still regrets any connection with Epstein.
Charities respond swiftly
The email’s release caused immediate backlash. The Teenage Cancer Trust ended her 35-year patronage. Julia’s House, where she had been patron since 2018, also cut ties. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, a charity she supported since 2019, followed suit. Prevent Breast Cancer, which she joined after her own breast cancer treatment in 2024, also ended its association with her.
Prince Andrew’s Epstein links add to scrutiny
Sarah Ferguson’s former husband, Prince Andrew, also faced fallout over Epstein. He stepped down as a working royal and lost patronages after links with Epstein came to light. Despite Epstein’s 2008 jail sentence, Prince Andrew stayed in contact with him, with a photo from 2010 showing them together in New York’s Central Park.
In the U.S., more documents and messages involving Epstein and famous figures continue to emerge. This has increased pressure on those connected to Epstein. The controversy recently led to the removal of a British ambassador over messages supporting Epstein.
Impact on the Duchess’s public image
The loss of charity roles damages the Duchess of York’s reputation. Her public image has focused on philanthropy, especially children’s causes. Charities now see her as an unsuitable representative. The email suggests her contact with Epstein lasted longer than she admitted.
Royal circles watch closely for any new Epstein-related revelations, especially about Prince Andrew. His ties to Epstein remain a major embarrassment for the royal family. Recently, an image of Prince Andrew with Epstein was projected onto Windsor Castle during a U.S. presidential visit, highlighting ongoing public interest.
Despite past controversies, the Duchess of York has shown resilience in royal circles. She was praised last Christmas for helping keep Prince Andrew out of the spotlight during a separate scandal. She even returned to a royal Christmas event after years away. However, this latest scandal may prevent any future public roles and could push Buckingham Palace to keep the Duke and Duchess of York distant from official events.
