Sarah's Trust, the charity founded by Sarah Ferguson, formerly the Duchess of York, has announced its impending closure for the foreseeable future. This move comes after recently released emails disclosed the extent of Ferguson's friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted for serious sex offenses.
Dedicated to promoting the welfare of women and children, Sarah's Trust confirmed in a statement late Monday that the decision to halt operations was reached after considerable internal discussion spanning several months. The trust stated, "Our chair Sarah Ferguson and the board of trustees have agreed that with regret the charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future."
The email exchanges, made public in the latest batch of documents issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, reveal that Ferguson maintained contact with Epstein well beyond his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. In the correspondence, Ferguson described Epstein using terms such as "legend" and expressed that he was "the brother I have always wished for."
One email from March 2011 shows Epstein expressing displeasure over a London Evening Standard article labeling him a pedophile. Ferguson responded expressing her "deep regret" over her connections with him. The following month, an email identified as being from "Sarah" reassured Epstein that she neither had called nor would call him a "P," emphasizing actions taken to "protect my own brand."
These revelations cast additional light on the complex relationships involving prominent individuals linked to Epstein. Notably, Ferguson is the former spouse of Prince Andrew, who has himself faced significant consequences, including the loss of his royal titles, due to his association with Epstein.
Addressing the broader implications, Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, remarked at the World Government Summit on the importance of remembering the victims in all related matters.