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Tuesday, September 23, 2025

UK charities drop Duchess of York as patron over leaked email with sex offender Epstein

Ms Ferguson comes as another high-profile Brit facing backlash over her past association with Mr Epstein.

• September 22, 2025
Sarah Ferguson, Jeffrey Epstein
Sarah Ferguson, Jeffrey Epstein

Some UK charities have dropped the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, as their patron following her leaked email with disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Since the leaked email in which Ms Ferguson described Mr Epstein as her “supreme friend” in 2011, children’s hospice Julia’s House, the Teenage Cancer Trust, food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, and the Children’s Literacy Charity have all cut ties with the duchess.

In separate statements, the British Heart Foundation announced the duchess was “no longer serving as an ambassador” for their organisation, while the Teenage Cancer Trust said they have “made the decision to end our relationship with the Duchess of York.”

“Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has made the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity,” a statement by the charity’s spokesperson on Monday said.

Similarly, founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, 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.”

The Children’s Literacy Charity, in a statement, also said it has cut ties with Ms Ferguson “given the recent information that has come to light about her and Jeffrey Epstein,” as it would be “inappropriate” for her to continue as their patron.

Ms Ferguson comes as another high-profile Brit facing backlash over her past association with Mr Epstein.

A few days ago, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired Peter Mandelson from his role as ambassador to the U.S. over his close alliance with disgraced paedophile and financier, Mr Epstein.

In the U.S., President Donald Trump has come under pressure from both his MAGA supporters and the opposition to release the Epstein file. Some of his critics said he is reluctant to release the file because his name is featured in it.

Mr Epstein, a disgraced sex offender, was first accused of sexually abusing underage girls in 2005. He served 13 months in jail.

In 2018, another round of investigation dug up about 80 sexual abuses by Mr Epstein and his associates. However, he died in detention in August 2019 amid investigations.

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