Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson Dropped by Growing Number of Charities Over Epstein Email
Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson Dropped by Growing Number of Charities Over Epstein Email
ultiple charities have cut ties with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, over an email she sent to the late Jeffrey Epstein, which saw her refer to the convicted sex offender as a “supreme friend.”
“We have made the decision to end our relationship with the Duchess of York, and as of today she is no longer a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust. We have communicated this decision to the Duchess,” a spokesperson for the Teenage Cancer Trust told TIME on Tuesday.
Julia’s House, a children’s hospice charity in the south of England, has ended its working relationship with Ferguson, confirming to TIME that the decision was made as “it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity.”
The founders of Natasha’s Allergy Research Foundation also severed ties. In a statement shared with TIME, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, said they were “disturbed” to read of the correspondence and, as such, had made the decision that Ferguson will no longer be a patron.
Prevent Breast Cancer, The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, The British Heart Foundation, and The Children's Literacy Charity have also reportedly dropped all association with the Duchess.
“I abhor pedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say,” said Ferguson. “Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
In the email, she appeared to apologize to Epstein for her public commentary, telling Epstein: "You have always been a steadfast, generous, and supreme friend to me and my family."
A spokesperson for Ferguson is quoted as telling The Sun that the email to Epstein had been written after he threatened to take legal action and sue for defamation over her comments. Per the spokesperson, the Duchess “regrets her association” with the financier.
"This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats," said a statement from her spokesman, issued when the email to Epstein was published over the weekend.
Epstein was initially sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in 2008 after pleading guilty to state charges—one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He was in custody once more awaiting trial on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors when he died in a New York jail cell in 2019.
Ferguson is the ex-wife of King Charles III's brother Prince Andrew, who was famously interviewed on BBC’s Newsnight about the nature of his own relationship with Epstein. Andrew visited Epstein in 2010, following the disgraced financier’s conviction and release from prison. They were photographed walking through Central Park.
Andrew was accused of sexual abuse himself by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre. He strongly denied the allegations. In January 2022, he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in the midst of a civil sexual abuse case brought forward by Giuffre. A month later, Andrew settled the lawsuit with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount.
An image of Prince Andrew alongside Epstein was projected onto Windsor Castle last week, as protesters rallied against President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the U.K. during which he stayed at the royal residence.
Led by Donkeys, the activist group behind the protest, also projected photos of Trump with Epstein, amid growing calls for Congress to release the full Epstein files. Trump's former relationship with the disgraced financier proved to be a firm focal point among some protesters in the U.K.
Trump and Epstein socialized together decades ago and their relationship recently came under the spotlight again after a birthday letter, alleged to have been signed by Trump and addressed to Epstein, was published. It was one of several letters said to be written by high-profile figures for a book celebrating Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003.
Sep 23, 2025 2:00 PM GMT: Time > com
