 "Who is Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who called Epstein a ‘supreme friend’?")
Several charities have severed ties with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, after reports published an email she reportedly wrote to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
What further fuelled the fire was her describing Epstein as a “supreme friend” in an email sent in 2011, just weeks after giving an interview in which she said she would never contact him again.
On Monday, Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, was the first to distance itself from the former royal. Soon after, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and other charities also ended their links.
But who is Sarah Ferguson? What was her connection with Epstein? Which charities have now cut ties?
Let’s take a look:
Who is Sarah Ferguson?
1. She is Britain’s Duchess of York and the former wife of Prince Andrew, King Charles’ younger brother.
2. She is popularly known by the nickname ‘Fergie’.
3. She and Prince Andrew have two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
4. After their divorce in 1996, she built a career as an author, television figure, businesswoman, and public personality.
5. In 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and later doctors found she also had malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer. In 2024, Princess Beatrice shared that her mother was doing well.
6. Ferguson married Prince Andrew in July 1986 at Westminster Abbey. They separated in 1992 and finalised their divorce in May 1996.
7. On her marriage, she was given the titles Her Royal Highness and The Duchess of York. After the divorce, her title became Sarah, Duchess of York, following tradition for former wives of peers.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts8. She has written several memoirs and children’s books, and more recently, she has been writing historical romance novels.
Sarah Ferguson & Epstein: Was there a link?
Ferguson has recently come under fire after several British newspapers published an email that she reportedly wrote to Epstein, where she described him as a “supreme friend”.
The email was linked to a 2011 interview she gave to the Evening Standard, where she admitted to accepting £15,000 from Epstein.
In that interview, she said, “I abhor paedophilia 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,’’
She added, “Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
The Sun & The Mail on Sunday shared the text of an allegd email from Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, to Jeffrey Epstein, sent in April 2011. However, these were not screenshots of the email, but transcriptions of the contents, so take these with a grain of salt until the actual… pic.twitter.com/rAT9c8Zzwq
— Taste Subjective (@TasteSubjective) September 21, 2025
The following month, she reportedly emailed Epstein, saying she “humbly apologised” for linking him to sexual abuse.
According to The Sun, she wrote, “You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.”
This comes less than a month after Prince Andrew was criticised for remaining in touch with Epstein for five more years than had been publicly acknowledged.
A spokesman for Ferguson told Britain’s Press Association that she wrote the email on her lawyers’ advice after Epstein threatened to sue her for associating him with sexual abuse during the media interview.
Which charities dropped ‘Fergie’ as patron or ambassador?
Here is a list of charities that ended their ties with the Duchess of York:
Julia’s House
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
Prevent Breast Cancer
The Teenage Cancer Trust
The Children’s Literacy Charity
British Heart Foundation
National Foundation for Retired Service Animals
What did Sarah Ferguson say?
In a statement to The Independent, Ferguson’s spokesperson explained that she was “taken in by his lies” and sent the email only because of the threat of defamation.
The spokesperson said: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.
“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then.
“This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”
With inputs from agencies
 "Putin says ready to extend nuclear treaty caps by one year if US doesn't...")
 "‘False Hindu god’: How US politician has stirred a row by criticising 90-feet-tall Hanuman statue")
 "Under Trump's TikTok deal, American firm Oracle to get algorithm control")
 "India extends airspace ban for Pakistan by another month")
 "Putin says ready to extend nuclear treaty caps by one year if US doesn't...")
 "‘False Hindu god’: How US politician has stirred a row by criticising 90-feet-tall Hanuman statue")
 "Under Trump's TikTok deal, American firm Oracle to get algorithm control")
 "India extends airspace ban for Pakistan by another month")
