Duchess of York dropped as charity patron after Epstein emails surface
Julia's House says it would be inappropriate to continue the patronage following revelations about Sarah Ferguson's correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein; the couple were seen returning to Windsor amid ongoing royal fallout.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has been dropped as a patron of Julia's House, a children's hospice charity, after new revelations about her contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Julia's House said it would be inappropriate for her to continue in the role in light of the Duchess's correspondence with the late financier. The charity added that it had advised Ferguson of the decision and thanked her for past support.
The development comes as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were photographed leaving Windsor's Royal Lodge by Range Rover, their first public appearance since the Mail on Sunday published disclosures about Ferguson's ties to Epstein. The weekend report centers on a private email in which Ferguson apologised to Epstein after publicly disavowing him when the case against him emerged.
In the newly published correspondence, Ferguson wrote to Epstein in 2011, weeks after telling the press she had cut all ties with him, to apologise for disassociating herself from the so-called supreme friend. The email, described by publishers of the Mail on Sunday as a grovelling message, said she had only distanced herself to protect her career as a children's author and philanthropist.
A spokesperson for Ferguson said the email was sent in response to Epstein's threats of defamation, not as a retraction of past statements about him. The Duchess's office emphasized that she deeply regrets any association with Epstein and condemned paedophilia, noting that she acted under advice aimed at fending off legal action and protecting her work with vulnerable children.
Prince Andrew has already stepped back from public duties, and the royal family has restricted his appearances. The latest disclosures have intensified questions about whether the King could bar the Yorks from private family occasions, with some reports indicating Charles has explored ways to limit their participation in private events while the issue remains unresolved.
The broader context includes ongoing scrutiny of the Duke of York's ties to Epstein, including a 2001 photograph of him with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein, which has fueled public and media speculation for years. Giuffre's allegations of trafficking, which she described in testimony and lawsuits, culminated in a 2022 settlement with Andrew, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Sources described as familiar with the royal dynamics say King Charles has sought to insulate the monarchy from further fallout, including possible steps such as reducing private funding, withdrawing security, or encouraging downsizing from high-cost properties linked to the Yorks. The debates within the royal circle illustrate the balancing act between public duties and private family life amid a high-profile and evolving scandal.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges involving multiple young women. The resurfaced emails have reignited debate about how public figures should respond to past associations with individuals later exposed for grave crimes, and what that means for charitable affiliations and royal involvement in public life.
The Mail on Sunday has reported that investigators in the United States could have access to a cache of emails between Ferguson and Epstein, a prospect that has prompted questions about further disclosures and potential implications for other charities and publishers connected to the couple. While the King has reportedly urged discretion in handling Sir Andrew and Ferguson's public engagements, the trajectory of private and public ties remains uncertain as investigations continue and media scrutiny persists.