Sarah Ferguson resigns from U.S. charity role amid Epstein email fallout

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has stepped down from her role as ambassador to the Youth Impact Council, a United States–based charity that supports youth-led initiatives. The organization said the resignation will allow it to continue focusing on its work.

The move comes amid a broader wave of fallout in both the United Kingdom and the United States after a surfaced email to Jeffrey Epstein. A number of British charities had already cut ties with the duchess, prompting questions about future affiliations in the United States. Notably, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation had ended their associations with Ferguson; other UK groups, including Julia's House, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, and the Children’s Literacy Charity, also announced changes to their links with the duchess. The cycle of withdrawals underscores the reputational risk Ferguson faces as scrutiny over her past associations intensifies.

The US charity disclosed the resignation after the Daily Mail reported on a leaked 2011 email in which Ferguson reportedly apologized to Epstein and described him as a supreme friend, following years of public disassociation. The note, described in detail by British tabloids, suggested the duchess sought to repair her image and protect her career as a children’s author and philanthropist. While the emails are older, their emergence has fueled renewed criticism of Ferguson and intensified pressure on organizations that previously welcomed her involvement.

A spokesman for Ferguson maintained that the email was sent in the context of legal and public-relations advice, following threats from Epstein. The spokesman said Ferguson did not retract her public statements about attempting to sever ties; rather, the message reflected a difficult moment in which she was urged to respond to Epstein’s threats. He emphasized that Ferguson’s first concern has always been the victims of Epstein’s crimes and that she regrets her past association with the convicted sex offender, even as she was urged to take steps to protect her family and career.

The duchess’s husband, Prince Andrew, has already relinquished a number of public duties and offices in relation to Epstein, and he remains barred from certain royal events. The latest development in Ferguson’s public life comes as questions persist about her ability to engage in United States charitable circles after the revelations and the subsequent withdrawal of several organizations.

Youth Impact Council, launched during New York Climate Week, described itself as an accelerator for youth-led initiatives designed to speed the impact of young change-makers aged 18 to 35. Ferguson had framed the venture as a way to learn from young people and to help them shape solutions for real-world problems. In reflecting on the partnership, she spoke of the experience as a deeply personal and authentic part of her legacy, while stressing a commitment to uplifting younger generations.

The email disclosures and the resulting climate of scrutiny coincide with renewed calls from Virginia Giuffre’s family for U.S. organizations to sever ties with Ferguson. Giuffre’s relatives, including her brothers Sky Roberts and Danny Wilson, urged U.S. charities to take meaningful steps to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice. Their statements highlighted concerns about the duchess’s involvement with Epstein and the potential impact on beneficiaries and supporters of charitable work.

The Youth Impact Council issued a brief statement confirming Ferguson has resigned and stating that the organization will continue its mission without her involvement. The decision, while likely painful for Ferguson, signals a willingness by U.S. partners to reassess affiliations amid ongoing scrutiny of past associations.

Observers say the concurrence of UK charity withdrawals and the U.S. council’s leadership change underscores the difficulty Ferguson faces in pursuing a revival of her career in American philanthropy. Still, her supporters note that the public record shows she has publicly acknowledged past mistakes and expressed remorse for her association with Epstein, while maintaining a focus on charitable work in the United Kingdom.

As this chapter unfolds, the duchess’s legacy in public life remains contested. The cross-Atlantic fallout illustrates how past connections can continue to shape present opportunities for high-profile figures once alleged to be champions of charitable causes, particularly when those associations intersect with high-profile criminal cases. The coming months are likely to determine whether Ferguson can re-enter mainstream philanthropy in either country, or whether the momentum of the controversy will continue to constrain her public role.