Several charities have ended their association with Sarah, Duchess of York, following revelations that she referred to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend” in a 2011 letter.
The Teenage Cancer Trust, Julia’s House children’s hospice, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, and The Children’s Literacy Charity have all confirmed they are cutting ties with Ferguson. A spokesperson for the duchess previously stated the letter was written to avoid legal action after she linked Epstein to paedophilia in a newspaper interview.
Julia’s House said in a statement: “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.” The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse said they were “disturbed” by the correspondence and decided it was “inappropriate” for Ferguson to remain a patron.
The letter, published by The Sun, shows Ferguson apologising “humbly” to Epstein and describing him as “steadfast, generous and supreme friend”. She wrote: “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me… I was broken and lost.” The correspondence came after Ferguson had publicly condemned Epstein in 2011, saying she “abhorred paedophilia” and regretted accepting £15,000 from him.
Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide.
