Controversy has arisen regarding Sarah, Duchess of York, after she sent a birthday message to the late Jeffrey Epstein. As a consequence, Julia’s House, a children’s hospice where the duchess was once a patron, has chosen to withdraw their patronage from her. The exchange took place more than a month after the first outreach to Epstein. This three month delay has introduced significant doubt regarding her judgment and ties.
In her initial note back to Epstein, Sarah indicated that she would be returning the funds. She formally communicated that she wanted no more contact with him. She referred to Epstein as a “perfect patron,” an alarming descriptor that has attracted intense condemnation given Epstein’s past. The first of these messages allegedly came out of her advisors’ efforts to silence Epstein’s warnings. They didn’t just want to protect her—they wanted to protect her family and friends.
The news of this letter has caused Julia’s House to reconsider its relationship with Sarah. She had been a long-time benefactor to her charity. Given the situation, the organization felt it was untenable for her to remain in this position.
In an exclusive interview, a spokesperson for Julia’s House said, “When we heard about the letter exchange, we knew we needed to respond in a big way.” The charity has maintained a firm stance against any association that could be perceived as endorsing Epstein’s actions or legacy.
In a statement to The Times, Sarah feigned remorse for her association with Epstein, but defended the indefensible judgment of keeping an open line of communication. She made it clear there would be no tolerance for paedophilia or any sexual abuse occurring against children. She had the humility to admit that she committed a monumental mistake in judgment. I am so penitent I cannot express it.
The Duchess stated unequivocally that she did not want to do any further damage to Prince Andrew. She implied that her motivations for approaching Epstein were based in fear and lack of understanding. I was given unequivocal guidance to not engage with you. I was advised never to talk or correspond with you outside of the courtroom. And, if I did, I would do mischief enough to you, the duke and myself. I was broken and lost. So please understand. So I really didn’t want to hurt Andrew a third time. I was in overriding fear. I am sorry,” she wrote.
Before Epstein could even go to trial for those charges, Epstein died by suicide in August 2019. His ties in particular to public figures, such as Sarah Ferguson still attracts firestorm level examination. The arrival of this message has resparked the debate over public accountability and the consequences of previous company ties.