Sarah's Trust, the charity founded by Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has announced it will close “for the foreseeable future” following the release of new files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted child sex offender. The decision comes after the US Department of Justice published a trove of around three million documents on Friday, offering fresh details about Epstein's connections to wealthy and powerful figures.
The files include emails showing Ferguson describing Epstein as “the brother I have always wished for” and thanking him for his kindness in 2009. In another email from September 2011, she appeared to reference a rumour that Epstein had fathered a child, writing: “Don't know if you're still on this bbm but have heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy.” She also accused Epstein in a separate message of being “only friends with me to get to Andrew”, adding that this “really hurt me deeeply”.
A spokesperson for Sarah's Trust said the closure had been under discussion for some months. “Our chair Sarah Ferguson and the board of trustees have agreed that with regret the charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future,” they said. The spokesperson highlighted the charity's achievements, including partnerships with more than 60 organisations in over 20 countries, delivering over 150,000 aid parcels during the Covid pandemic, providing medical aid to Ukraine, and funding education for more than 200 children in Ghana.
The announcement follows the decision by seven charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and a children's hospice, to sever ties with Ferguson over her links to Epstein. The newly released documents also reveal that Epstein's publicist was asked to draft a statement Ferguson might issue, and that she emailed Epstein in April 2011 saying she had acted to “protect my own brand”. Ferguson has previously expressed regret over the association, with a spokesperson saying she “does not resile” from condemning Epstein publicly.
