SARAH FERGUSON HAS been dropped as the patron of five charities in the fallout from reports that she sent convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein an email calling him a “supreme friend”.

Ferguson was previously the wife of disgraced English royal Prince Andrew who stepped away from royal duties after he faced allegations of his own and criticism over his close friendship with Epstein.  

In March 2011, Ferguson said in an interview with the Evening Standard that she regretted accepting £15,000 from the American financier and said she would repay him and have nothing to do with him ever again.

She told the newspaper: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say.”

The following month, Ferguson allegedly sent an email to Epstein from her private account apologising for disowning him as a friend in public. According to The Sun, she referred to him as a “supreme friend” and apologised for linking him to paedophilia in the media. 

She reportedly said he was “generous” and “steadfast” and wrote that she was “bedridden with fear”.

Her spokesman said that Ferguson had contacted Epstein because he had threatened to sue her for defamation after she had referred to him in the same context as paedophilia.

The spokesman added that Ferguson “was taken in by his [Epstein's] lies” and the emails as sent in the contact of “advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats”.

Cutting ties

Today, five charities have announced that they would be cutting ties with Ferguson.

Dorset and Wiltshire-based children’s hospice Julia’s House said Ferguson’s correspondence with the paedophile made it “inappropriate for her to continue as a patron”. 

“We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support,” the charity said in a statement.

Similarly, charity Prevent Breast Cancer said Ferguson is no longer a patron. She had become a patron last year.

Food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, of which Ferguson became a patron upon its founding in 2019, said it was “disturbed” to read of the royal’s correspondence with Epstein.

“Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years.

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“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.”

Teenage Cancer Trust and Children’s Literacy Charity similarly said it would not be appropriate for her to have any ties to the organisations.

Epstein, once a magnate in the world of finance, was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors, and was found dead in his cell a month later.

His death was ruled a suicide. His connections with wealthy and influential businesspeople and politicians have continued to permeate the political landscape. Donald Trump is often questioned on his relationship with Epstein.

Earlier this month, the UK’s ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson was sacked after old messages to Epstein resurfaced.

Includes reporting by Press Association