Sarah Ferguson's charity, Sarah's Trust, has announced it is to close "for the foreseeable future" following new revelations about her friendship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. A spokesperson said the decision had been under discussion for some months.
The closure comes after the US Department of Justice released approximately 3 million files relating to Epstein, which included emails showing Ferguson describing him as "the brother I have always wished for". Other correspondence suggested Epstein may have had a secret child, with Ferguson writing in 2011 that she had heard from the Duke that Epstein had a baby boy.
In a separate email, Ferguson accused Epstein of being friends with her only "to get to Andrew", adding that it "really hurt me deeply". She also wrote of acting to "protect my own brand" and thanked Epstein for his kindness, while another message praised him as a "legend" and said she was "so proud" of him.
A spokesperson for Sarah's Trust said the organisation remained proud of its work, which included delivering over 150,000 aid parcels during the Covid pandemic, providing medical aid for Ukraine, and supporting education for more than 200 children in Ghana. The charity had partnered with over 60 organisations in more than 20 countries.
The closure follows previous decisions by seven charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, to cut ties with Ferguson over her association with Epstein. Her spokesperson has previously said she does not resile from publicly condemning him and has expressed regret over the association.
