Sarah Ferguson‘s charitable organization has announced its immediate closure following the release of damaging emails that exposed the depth of her friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sarah’s Trust will close “for the foreseeable future,” according to a statement released Monday evening (February 2, 2026). The charity, which focused on improving the lives of women and children, made the announcement days after more than three million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The former Duchess of York founded the organization in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the controversy, the charity defended its track record in its closing statement.
“We remain extremely proud of the work of the trust over recent years,” a spokesperson said. The organization noted that it had partnered with more than 60 charities across 20 countries.
Damaging Email Exchanges Surface
The newly released files revealed Sarah Ferguson maintained contact with Epstein long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. In one particularly striking email from July 2009, Ferguson arranged to visit Epstein with her daughters.
“What address shall we come to. It will be myself, Beatrice and Eugenie. Are we having lunch?” the email read. This visit occurred just days after Epstein’s release from prison.
The emails also showed Ferguson congratulating Epstein years later. In a September 2011 message, she wrote: “Even though you never kept in touch, I still am here with love, friendship and congratualtions (sic) on your baby boy.”
However, other correspondence revealed tension in their relationship. Ferguson later accused Epstein of using her, stating it was “crystal clear to me that you were only friends with me to get to Andrew.”
Charity Already Under Pressure
The closure follows mounting pressure on Sarah Ferguson. Last year, several prominent charities severed ties with the former duchess after leaked emails suggested she had apologized to Epstein for publicly disowning him.
Children’s hospice Julia’s House, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, and the British Heart Foundation all dropped Ferguson as patron.
Despite the timing, the charity insisted that closure discussions had been ongoing. “This has been under discussion and in train for some months,” the trust stated.
Royal Connections Deepen Scandal
Sarah Ferguson is the ex-wife of former Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles due to his own connections with Epstein. The recently released documents also included photographs and emails involving Andrew, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Representatives for Sarah Ferguson have previously stated she expressed regret about her association with Epstein. However, the newly revealed emails paint a picture of a friendship that continued well beyond Epstein’s criminal conviction.
The charity’s closure marks another chapter in the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal, which continues to impact high-profile figures years after his death in 2019.
