Sarah Ferguson has been removed as a patron by both a children’s hospice and a food charity after it was revealed that she referred to Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend” in an email. Julia’s House, a children’s hospice in Dorset and Wiltshire, stated that it was no longer appropriate for the duchess to maintain her position due to her communication with Epstein. The hospice thanked her for past support but informed her of the decision.
Similarly, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, a food charity, also decided to cut ties with the duchess. The founders, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBEs, expressed their concern over Ferguson’s correspondence with Epstein and deemed it inappropriate for her to remain associated with the charity. They appreciated her previous support but felt the recent revelations necessitated this action.
The controversial email to Epstein, dated April 26, 2011, was sent despite Ferguson publicly stating that she would sever all connections with the sex offender. The message, reported by The Sun newspaper, showed her apologizing to Epstein for linking him to paedophilia in the media and praising him as a “steadfast” and “generous” friend. Her spokesperson explained that the email was an attempt to calm Epstein and his threats as advised.
In a previous interview with the Evening Standard, Ferguson had acknowledged accepting money from Epstein and expressed deep regret for her actions. Reports indicated that shortly after this interview, she sent another apologetic email to Epstein, admitting fear and expressing regret for not responding to his previous messages. She cited advice to distance herself from him to avoid further complications with her family and expressed remorse for causing him disappointment.
