Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, once celebrated for her decades of philanthropic work, is now facing a dramatic fall from grace as a cascade of British charities have severed ties with her. The sudden distancing comes after the resurfacing of a 2011 email to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in which Ferguson described him as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend.” The revelations have not only tarnished Ferguson’s reputation but also reignited scrutiny of her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, whose own connections to Epstein have long been a source of public controversy.
The controversy began anew on September 23, 2025, when British newspapers published details of an email Ferguson reportedly sent to Epstein in April 2011. According to The Sun and corroborated by the Associated Press and BBC, the correspondence followed her public apology for accepting £15,000 from Epstein—a sum she used to pay wages owed to a former personal assistant. In a March 7, 2011 interview with the Evening Standard, Ferguson had described her dealings with Epstein as “a gigantic error of judgment,” declaring, “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. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
Yet, just a month later, Ferguson privately reached out to Epstein with a markedly different tone. In the email, she wrote, “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.” The message continued with Ferguson expressing that she was “broken and lost” at the time, and that she had been advised “in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you. And if I did—I would cause more problems to you, the Duke and myself. I was in over-riding fear. I am sorry.” According to People and Sky News, the email was reportedly sent under legal advice after Epstein threatened to sue Ferguson for defamation following her public disavowal.
The fallout was swift and severe. Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, became the first charity to announce it was ending its association with Ferguson. The organization stated, “It would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity,” citing the newly revealed correspondence as the deciding factor. Other organizations quickly followed suit. The Teenage Cancer Trust, which had a 35-year relationship with Ferguson, also dropped her as a patron. In a statement, the charity said, “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. We would like to thank the Duchess of York for her support.”
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, the Children’s Literacy Charity, and the British Heart Foundation each issued statements confirming they had severed ties with Ferguson. Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said, “We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York’s, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. She was a patron, but in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity.” Prevent Breast Cancer, which Ferguson joined as a patron after her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2023, also thanked her for her work before confirming her removal. The British Heart Foundation echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for Ferguson’s “past efforts to help us save and improve lives by funding pioneering research into cardiovascular disease.”
According to the BBC, a total of seven charities had cut ties with Ferguson as of late September 2025. A spokesperson for the Duchess has stated that she would not be addressing her removal from the various charities. However, the spokesperson maintained that Ferguson “does not resile” from her public condemnation of Epstein and reiterated that the apology email was sent “in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”
The Associated Press noted that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the email, but its publication has nonetheless had a profound impact. The scandal has also revived public interest in the broader issue of royal ties to Epstein. Prince Andrew, Ferguson’s former husband and the younger brother of King Charles III, has faced years of scrutiny over his own relationship with Epstein. In a 2019 BBC interview, Andrew claimed to have ended all contact with Epstein after a 2010 visit to New York. However, leaked emails published by the Times of London suggested that Andrew remained in touch with Epstein as late as 2015. The prince has consistently denied allegations of sexual misconduct, including claims made by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse related to Epstein’s trafficking network.
Andrew’s association with Epstein ultimately led to his withdrawal from royal duties and charity roles in 2022, following a widely criticized BBC interview in which he attempted to minimize his connections to Epstein and failed to show sympathy for the financier’s victims. The royal family has since faced ongoing scrutiny over accusations that Andrew sought to profit from his royal status and concerns about outside influence, including a 2024 report that a suspected Chinese spy had developed close links with him.
For Ferguson, the current backlash marks a stunning reversal from her long-standing image as a champion of charitable causes. Over the years, she has been recognized for her work with children’s health, cancer research, and literacy initiatives, as well as her career as an entrepreneur and children’s book author. Yet, as The Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard reported, her financial difficulties and efforts to clear her debts played a significant role in her initial association with Epstein—a connection she would later describe as “a gigantic error of judgment.”
The resurfacing of her apology email and the subsequent exodus of charitable organizations underscore the enduring consequences of past decisions and the heightened scrutiny faced by public figures with ties to notorious individuals. As the dust settles, Ferguson’s future in the world of philanthropy remains uncertain, with her once-sterling reputation now overshadowed by controversy and regret.
In an era of heightened accountability and transparency, even decades-old decisions can come back to haunt those in the public eye, serving as a stark reminder that reputations—no matter how well-earned—are always vulnerable to the court of public opinion.