Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has just been stripped of a number of her various patronages. Now, she is in possession of six of them. Her controversial ties to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein and subsequent correspondence with him has come to light. The impact of this revelation has prompted strong alarm from the charities she served. Her emails to Epstein, in which she referred to him as her “supreme friend,” sparked a firestorm of outrage. In response, she lost her positions with multiple organizations.
Ferguson had been a supporter of numerous organizations since her diagnosis with breast cancer in 2023. Yet the negative response to her communications with Epstein has led organizations to sever ties with her. The British Heart Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, and National Foundation for Retired Service Animals have each generated news. They made a real statement when they released their decisions to cut ties in public with the Duchess.
One charity, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, wrote to tell Rep. Ferguson that they found his emails inappropriate. They stated, “We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York’s, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. We have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity.”
The impact of her broader ties to Epstein has forced Ferguson to walk a difficult tightrope. She wrote a personal email to Epstein in which she “humbly apologised” for associating him with paedophilia in the press. This action made her position more tangled among charitable circles. Her comments describing Epstein as “steadfast” and “generous” raised many eyebrows. They stoked the backlash against her.
Ferguson has recently been abandoned by support from six charities, including Julia’s House and Prevent Breast Cancer. These developments have had a far-reaching effect on their patronage. The latter confirmed her removal by stating, “The Duchess of York is no longer a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer. We have advised her of this decision and thank her for her past support.”
Given those realities, Ferguson seems to be taking her talents in a different direction…She told the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month that she wants to make an early, retiree-excited career change like her “phenomenal” grandkids have. This amendment is especially welcomed during a stormy time filled with public shaming and great professional exile.
On June 20, 2025, Ferguson found itself in a maelstrom. She was on day four of Royal Ascot, taking place at Ascot Racecourse, England. This fly on the wall moment turned out to be an unforeseen counterpoint to her recent challenges in the charity arena.
Ferguson’s future in philanthropy becoming ever murky. According to one report, a seventh charity may be prepared to cut their ties with her. This potential highlights the lasting impact of her moves and the lack of support she now receives from the philanthropic community.
Ferguson has a difficult story arc, like many, in her life. She has to deal with the fallout of her former ties, while taking steps to find and create new opportunities for herself and her career. Her loss of patronages underscores the damage caused by her connection to Epstein. It’s an important sign that we are experiencing a broader reevaluation of her place in charitable initiatives.
