Several Charities Sever Ties with Duchess of York Over Epstein Email Revelations

LONDON — On Monday, several charitable organizations announced the termination of their affiliations with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, after reports surfaced revealing that she described the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a "supreme friend" in correspondence sent in 2011.

Ferguson, 65, and formerly married to Prince Andrew, Duke of York, reportedly wrote the email to Epstein weeks after publicly stating she would cease contact with him. Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state prostitution charge in Florida, was required to register as a sex offender.

The message, disclosed by media outlets, showed Ferguson apologizing to Epstein and affirming his loyal friendship towards her and her family. Her spokesperson previously defended the email as a response aimed at mitigating potential defamation claims from Epstein but declined further comment on the charities' decisions to dissociate.

At least five charities confirmed the cessation of Ferguson's patronage, citing discomfort over her communications with Epstein. Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, stated, "We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York's, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. She was a patron but, in 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."

This scandal echoes the broader fallout tied to Prince Andrew, whose reputation suffered significantly due to his association with Epstein. In 2022, Andrew was stripped of most royal titles and relieved of public duties after enduring widespread condemnation and distancing measures from both businesses and charitable entities.