Several charitable organizations have decided to end their affiliations with Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, after an email surfaced in British newspapers revealing her referring to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend.” Among these charities, Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, announced that the disclosed correspondence rendered it inappropriate for Ferguson, also known as the Duchess of York, to continue as a patron.
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and Prevent Breast Cancer are among the other charities that have cut ties with Ferguson following the recent revelations. Ferguson’s spokesperson explained that she had sent the email under legal advice after Epstein threatened legal action for associating him with sexual abuse in a media interview.
In a 2011 interview with the Evening Standard newspaper, Ferguson expressed regret for accepting funds from Epstein, stating, “I abhor pedophilia and any sexual abuse of children, and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.” She pledged to repay the money and sever all ties with Epstein.
The Sun newspaper reported that Ferguson later sent another email to Epstein apologizing for linking him to sex abuse and acknowledging him as a supportive friend. The authenticity of this email could not be independently verified by the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, faced backlash for his associations with Epstein following a controversial BBC interview in 2019, which led to his withdrawal from royal duties. Additionally, Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the U.S., was relieved of his duties after further communications with Epstein came to light.
Jeffrey Epstein’s death in prison in 2019 was ruled a suicide, sparking numerous conspiracy theories due to his connections with prominent figures like U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Epstein’s legal history includes a 2008 plea deal in Florida for soliciting prostitution and federal charges of child trafficking in New York shortly before his death.
