Giuffre family urges stripping Sarah Ferguson of royal title after 'supreme friend' email with Epstein surfaces

The family of Virginia Giuffre has demanded that Sarah Ferguson be stripped of her royal title after she described Jeffrey Epstein as a 'supreme friend' in an old email that surfaced in the context of a BBC Newsnight interview. Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, told Newsnight that calling Epstein a supreme friend after his conviction is indefensible and that Ferguson’s public role in child-focused charities is now untenable given the private correspondence she exchanged with Epstein, who had already been convicted of sex crimes. Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, said the family is focused on survivors and that her actions, even in private messages, carry weight for people who have endured harm. "Every survivor faces defamation. If you’re in Epstein’s circle, it was very obvious what was happening. Minors were around him constantly. For friends to act unaware is preposterous," Amanda Roberts added.

The revelations sparked a swift fallout for Ferguson, with seven charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation severing ties. The email’s contents, in which the Duchess apologized to Epstein and stated she had been told to speak out if she wanted to salvage her career as a children’s author, intensified scrutiny of her associations and prompted calls for accountability that extend beyond Ferguson to her former husband, Prince Andrew. A spokesperson for the Duchess previously said she regretted her past association with Epstein, and that she had cut off contact with him and condemned him publicly once she learned the extent of the allegations against him. The spokesperson noted Epstein threatened to sue Ferguson for defamation over the association.

The dispute sits amid broader questions about accountability in the Epstein network. Prince Andrew, Duke of York, settled out of court with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum reportedly in the multi‑million‑pound range, without admitting liability. Giuffre accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her three times when she was 17; Andrew has denied the accusations. The civil settlement closed one chapter of a long-running saga, but supporters and detractors alike say it did not resolve questions about the wider circle surrounding Epstein.

Sky Roberts went further, saying the settlement avoided discovery that could have exposed more information. "He has questions to answer. The settlement avoided discovery, which could have exposed more," he said. Amanda Roberts added that Virginia Giuffre was left “disgusted” by Prince Andrew’s 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, which she argued did not present a convincing account of events. The family also criticized the U.S. government for moving Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower-security facility, calling it a perceived betrayal and an example of what they described as political influence jeopardizing justice.

The duchess’s stance has become a lightning rod in conversations about accountability as lawmakers in the United States weigh how to release Epstein-related documents. The family warned of a possible cover-up at the highest levels, asserting that political pressure is being used to block the release of records in Congress. Sky Roberts emphasized the role of elected representatives, saying, "Your House representatives serve you. Not the President. Not the rich and powerful." In response to the growing scrutiny, Ferguson’s team has highlighted that she has repeatedly sought to distance herself from Epstein and to support victims of abuse, noting that she has published children’s books and has new works slated for release in November.

The public record around Ferguson’s relationship with Epstein continues to influence the public’s perception of royal figures linked to the Epstein case. Buckingham Palace confirmed it had been approached for comment, but did not provide additional details beyond reiterating the Duchess’s past statements about regretting her association. As the conversation continues, observers are watching to see whether the royal family will pursue formal steps in response to the Giuffre family’s call for accountability, including potential changes to titles and public roles for Ferguson.

The article is set within a broader media and cultural moment examining how institutions respond to connections with individuals later deemed to have engaged in serious criminal conduct. It also reflects the ongoing tension between fundraising, charitable work, and the obligations of public figures to maintain rigorous standards of conduct in the wake of highly publicized allegations of abuse. In September 2025, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson attended the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral, a reminder of the close ties that still bind some members of the royal family to public-facing duties even as questions about past associations persist.

As the conversation evolves, Buckingham Palace has not offered additional comment beyond previous statements, and the royal household has historically relied on a combination of private outreach and public statements when addressing sensitive matters linked to its members. The Giuffre family’s call for action remains a focal point for debates about accountability, empathy for survivors, and how reputational considerations intersect with legal and moral responsibilities in high-profile cases.