Several charities have ended their association with Sarah, Duchess of York, after it emerged she had described convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a 'supreme friend' in a 2011 letter. The Teenage Cancer Trust, Julia's House children's hospice, and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation are among those to sever ties.
The Duchess's spokesperson confirmed the letter was written to head off legal threats from Epstein after she had linked him to paedophilia in a newspaper interview. In the correspondence, Ferguson apologised for her comments and praised Epstein as 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend'.
Julia's House 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.' The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation founders said they were 'disturbed' by the revelations.
Prevent Breast Cancer and The Children's Literacy Charity have also cut ties. Ferguson had been a patron of both organisations. The Duchess's spokesperson previously said she regretted her association with Epstein and does not resile from condemning him publicly.
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.
