Sarah Ferguson has been removed from her position as a patron of a children’s hospice following the emergence of an email where she described Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted paedophile, as a “supreme friend.” The email, dated April 26, 2011, was sent shortly after Ferguson publicly stated that she would sever ties with the sex offender. In the message, Ferguson apologized to Epstein for implicating him in paedophilia, calling him “steadfast” and “generous.”
According to reports, the email was an attempt to pacify Epstein and address his threats, as advised to Ferguson. In a separate interview in March 2011, Ferguson expressed remorse for accepting money from Epstein, emphasizing her strong stance against paedophilia and vowing to distance herself from him in the future.
Subsequent reports revealed that Ferguson sent another email to Epstein a month later, expressing fear and apologizing for not responding to his previous communication. She mentioned being advised to avoid contact with him to prevent further complications for herself and Prince Andrew. The correspondence led Julia’s House, a children’s hospice in Dorset and Wiltshire, to decide that Ferguson’s association with Epstein made her unsuitable to continue as a patron.
Ferguson’s spokesperson clarified that Epstein had threatened legal action against her for defamation due to her previous statements linking him to paedophilia. The spokesperson reiterated Ferguson’s regret for her past association with Epstein and her support for his victims. Epstein passed away in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, with his death ruled as a suicide.
Julia’s House officially informed Ferguson of their decision and thanked her for her prior support. The hospice’s statement cited the recent revelations about Ferguson’s correspondence with Epstein as the basis for their decision. Ferguson’s spokesperson emphasized that Ferguson’s actions were guided by advice to manage the situation with Epstein, acknowledging her condemnation of his actions once she became fully aware of the allegations against him.