Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and former wife of Prince Andrew, found herself at the center of a growing controversy this week as a cascade of UK charities publicly severed their ties with her. The swift and widespread fallout came after leaked emails surfaced, revealing that Ferguson had described the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a "steadfast, generous and supreme friend" in private correspondence from 2011—contradicting her previous public statements.
The episode unfolded rapidly on September 23, 2025, when at least seven major charities—including Julia's House, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation, National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, and The Children's Literacy Charity—announced they were dropping Ferguson as a patron. According to The Independent, these decisions were triggered by the emergence of an email dated April 26, 2011, in which Ferguson apologized to Epstein for publicly disowning him and lavished him with praise.
In the email, Ferguson 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. I am apologising to you today for not replying to your email or reaching out to you. I was bedridden with fear. I was paralysed. I was 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 broken and lost. So please understand. I didn’t want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in overriding fear. I am sorry."
This message was sent just weeks after Ferguson had given a March 7, 2011 interview to the Evening Standard, in which she expressed deep regret for accepting £15,000 from Epstein and declared unequivocally, "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." The contrast between her public stance and her private apology to Epstein has become a focal point of criticism.
Charities that had long counted on Ferguson’s support moved quickly to distance themselves. Julia’s House, a children’s hospice, stated, "Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support," as reported by The Independent and the Associated Press.
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, whose founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse lost their daughter Natasha to a fatal allergic reaction, echoed similar sentiments. In their statement, they 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. We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past."
Prevent Breast Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, and the British Heart Foundation also confirmed the termination of Ferguson’s patronage, each issuing statements thanking her for her previous contributions. The Children’s Literacy Charity noted, "Given the recent information which has come to light about the Duchess of York and Jeffrey Epstein, the Children’s Literacy Charity has asked the Duchess of York to step down from her role as patron. We are grateful for the Duchess of York’s support for children’s literacy over the years but now feel it would be inappropriate for her to continue as patron of the charity."
Ferguson’s spokesperson has maintained that the 2011 email was sent under duress, claiming that Epstein had threatened to sue her for defamation after she publicly condemned him. The spokesperson told The Independent, "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."
Jeffrey Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state prostitution charge in Florida and was forced to register as a sex offender, died by suicide in a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death, ruled a suicide, did little to quell the public scrutiny of those in his orbit, especially high-profile figures such as Prince Andrew and now, by extension, Sarah Ferguson.
The scandal has also reignited attention on Prince Andrew’s longstanding relationship with Epstein. As noted by the Associated Press and The Times of London, leaked emails have shown that Andrew remained in contact with Epstein as late as 2015, contradicting his 2019 assertion to the BBC that he had cut ties with Epstein in December 2010. Andrew’s own fall from grace was marked by his being stripped of most of his royal titles and duties in 2022, following a disastrous BBC interview in which he failed to express sympathy for Epstein’s victims and was widely criticized for minimizing his connection to the disgraced financier.
Amid these revelations, Ferguson’s efforts to rebuild her public image—as an author, media personality, and children’s philanthropist—have suffered a significant blow. She had only become a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer last year, following her own experience with the disease in 2023, and had been making a tentative return to public life alongside Prince Andrew. The pair, who divorced in 1996 but have remained close and continue to live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, had recently appeared together at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, signaling a possible reemergence into public view. That prospect now appears uncertain.
The timing of Ferguson’s scandal is particularly sensitive, coming just days after former UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, was dismissed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over correspondence that showed Mandelson expressing support for Epstein. The UK public and media remain intensely focused on the broader implications of the Epstein network and the reputational risks it poses for figures at the highest levels of British society.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the reputational consequences of even distant associations with Jeffrey Epstein continue to ripple outward, ensnaring not just those who were closest to him, but anyone whose ties—however complicated—come to light. For Sarah Ferguson, the cost has been immediate and public, with a once-robust portfolio of charitable work now dramatically reduced in a matter of days.