Giuffre family urges US to cut ties with Sarah Ferguson as British charities sever ties

Virginia Giuffre's family is calling on United States organizations to follow the example of British charities and sever ties with Sarah Ferguson after seven charities dropped the Duchess of York amid fallout from a leaked 2011 email to Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre, who has long described being abused by Epstein and trafficked three times to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17, has seen renewed scrutiny of her allegations and the couple's role in the case. The Duke of York has repeatedly denied the claims, and his representatives have pushed back against the latest disclosures.

The charities that cut Ferguson's ties include major names such as the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation, according to reports tied to the Mail on Sunday leak. Giuffre's brothers, Sky Roberts and Danny Wilson, urged US organizations to follow the British example and take what they described as meaningful steps to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice. As the public pressure mounted, Ferguson issued statements attempting to explain the emails and the context in which they were sent. Her spokesman said Ferguson feared for her family after a confrontation with Epstein and described a threatening dynamic surrounding the relationship.

James Henderson, Ferguson's spokesman, said Epstein had threatened to ruin the York family in a chilling phone call after Giuffre publicly disowned him, describing the moment as a confrontation in which Epstein spoke in a menacing, Hannibal Lecter-type voice. Henderson added that Ferguson's 2011 email to Epstein, in which she purportedly apologized and suggested he would be let down by her, must be understood in the context of the fear and pressure she described feeling at the time. He illustrated the pressure on Ferguson as immense and driven by the desire to protect her children and extended family.

The emails show Ferguson attempting to justify her communication with Epstein as a protective act, including stating that she was trying to shield Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie from further fallout. That framing has become a focal point for critics who say the relationship with Epstein was deeply problematic and risked normalizing or excusing serious wrongdoing. The context included Epstein's reported anger at public condemnation and his insistence on leveraging influence and fear to exact a response from those who criticized him.

Meanwhile, Prince Andrew has resurfaced publicly, for the first time since the revelations surrounding Ferguson's email came to light. He was photographed driving a Range Rover away from his Windsor home with a male companion in the passenger seat, signaling a continued presence in royal life despite the controversy.

Support for Ferguson surfaced from some quarters, including Lizzie Cundy, a television personality and former wife of footballer Jason Cundy, who spoke to Channel 5's Jeremy Vine. Cundy described Ferguson as devastated and remorseful, emphasizing that she reportedly acted out of fear of Epstein and a desire to protect her family. Cundy said Ferguson publicly condemned Epstein but faced intense backlash and legal pressure that she felt she could not withstand alone.

The broader royal public conversation has also turned toward child exploitation and supply-chain accountability. Princess Eugenie this week launched a campaign with The Anti-Slavery Collective focusing on how modern slavery can hide in plain sight in fast fashion and counterfeit goods. Eugenie warned that counterfeit items, while seemingly harmless, can carry hidden costs borne by vulnerable workers and called for greater accountability across supply chains.

Together, the developments reflect ongoing scrutiny of public figures connected to Epstein and the broader issues of accountability and protection for victims. Giuffre's family has underscored a demand for action from institutions that may have previously given cover to controversial associations, arguing that organizations should prioritize safeguarding the vulnerable and upholding justice over reputational concerns. The United States remains the primary arena for continued debate over the extent of Ferguson's involvement and the implications for the broader royal household, with legal and diplomatic implications potentially unfolding as new details emerge.