Charities sever ties with Sarah Ferguson after Epstein email leaks
Several UK charities cut ties with the Duchess of York amid reports of emails linking her to Jeffrey Epstein as scrutiny of royal connections persists.
LONDON — A number of charities said Monday they have ended their associations with Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, after British outlets published emails in which she described Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend.”
Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, said the correspondence made it inappropriate for Ferguson to remain a patron and said it had informed her of the decision. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and Prevent Breast Cancer also cut ties in light of the revelations, and the Teenage Cancer Trust, which had a 35‑year association with Ferguson, also dropped her as a patron.
The email collection includes a 2011 interview with the Evening Standard in which Ferguson apologized for accepting 15,000 pounds from Epstein, saying she abhorred paedophilia and would repay the money. The Guardian and other outlets disclosed that, in a subsequent message to Epstein, she “humbly apologized” for linking him to sex abuse, adding, “you have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” The Associated Press could not independently verify the emails' authenticity.
The disclosures come as Prince Andrew faced renewed scrutiny for his long-running associations with Epstein. Leaked emails between Epstein and former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak suggested Andrew’s contact with Epstein continued as late as 2015, according to The Times of London. Andrew told the BBC in 2019 that he ceased all contact with Epstein in December 2010, after Epstein pled guilty to sex crimes in Florida.
Observers say the developments underscore ongoing reputational risks for Ferguson and the broader royal family in light of the Epstein saga, even as investigations and media scrutiny continue. The charities’ decisions to distance themselves reflect a broader trend of organizations reassessing partnerships with public figures tied to controversial figures or activities, and they leave Ferguson's public roles in question as the fallout from past associations remains unresolved.