Ethics

UK: Seven Charities Drop Duchess of York Over Epstein Email

Published SEP 23 2025

Story

Above: Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, in June 2025. Image credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images

The Facts

Seven charities have severed ties with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, after leaked emails revealed she reportedly called convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein a "supreme friend" in 2011.
Sky News
GB News
The charities that dropped Ferguson include Julia's House children's hospice, Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Children's Literacy Charity, Prevent Breast Cancer and National Foundation for Retired Service Animals.
BBC News
Sky News
Ferguson's 2011 email to Epstein came after she publicly denounced him in an Evening Standard interview, calling her association with him a "gigantic error of judgment" and vowing to "never have anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again."
NBC
FOX News
In the leaked email dated April 26, 2011, Ferguson apologized to Epstein for her public criticism and wrote "I know you feel hellaciously let down by me" and "I was bedridden with fear" when advised not to contact him.
People
New York Post
Ferguson's spokesperson said the email was sent "in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats" after he threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with pedophilia in her public statements.
E! Online
Sky News
Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan federal jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving dozens of teenage girls and young women, with investigators ruling his death a suicide.
guardian
FOX News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

These charities made the right call by cutting ties with Ferguson immediately. This is not her first scandal as a royal, and her duplicitous behavior shows a complete lack of moral integrity that makes her unfit to represent organizations helping vulnerable children.

Guardian

The Standard

Narrative B

Ferguson was clearly being manipulated by a dangerous predator who threatened legal action against her. She publicly condemned Epstein appropriately, and her private email was simply damage control to protect herself and her family from his threats – exactly what any reasonable person would do.