Several charitable organizations have cut ties with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, as their patron after an email surfaced in which she referred to disgraced figure Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend.” Among the seven charities that have dropped her are the British Heart Foundation (BHS), The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, Prevent Breast Cancer, Julia’s House, Children’s Literacy Charity, and National Foundation for Retired Service Animals. A BHS spokesperson confirmed that the Duchess is no longer an ambassador for their organization.
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation expressed being “disturbed” by the revelations, with founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBEs stating that they found the correspondence troubling. Similarly, Prevent Breast Cancer announced the Duchess’s removal as their patron and expressed gratitude for her previous support.
Teenage Cancer Trust also ended their 35-year relationship with the Duchess as a patron, thanking her for her past support. Children’s Literacy Charity and Julia’s House have both decided to sever ties with the Duchess due to the recent information about her correspondence with Epstein.
The controversial email to Epstein, dated April 26, 2011, showed the Duchess apologizing for past statements linking him to paedophilia. She expressed deep remorse for her actions and vowed to sever all ties with him in the future. Reports indicated that she later sent another apologetic email to Epstein, expressing her fear and regret.
The Duchess’s email content revealed her feelings of fear and regret, expressing her apologies and acknowledging the advice she had received to distance herself from Epstein to avoid causing further harm. The messages led to various charities severing their connections with her as a patron.