Sarah Ferguson’s charity winds up after Epstein links

Sarah Ferguson’s charity has been shut down following scrutiny of her links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sarah’s Trust which introduced philanthropists to good causes in need of funding was formally wound up last month after being first registered with the Charity Commission in 2018.

The commission’s website lists the trust as being “removed”, meaning it is no longer a registered charity. It was also listed at Companies House as a “charitable incorporated organisation” but its status is now “converted/closed”.

The King’s former sister-in-law has faced calls to speak to the US authorities about the financier Epstein after the release earlier this year of millions of documents associated with him shed new light on their relationship.

One email exchange suggested Ferguson took her daughters to see Epstein in the US days after he was released from prison for child sex crimes.

In February, soon after the new details began emerging, the trust reportedly said it would close for the foreseeable future.

Other charities associated with the former duchess also cut ties including the Teenage Cancer Trust, which dropped her as patron after 35 years, Wiltshire and Dorset-based children’s hospice Julia’s House, Prevent Breast Cancer, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals.

Epstein has been the downfall of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his titles by the King because of “serious lapses of judgement” over his friendship with the late paedophile.

Ferguson also lost her courtesy royal divorcee title and reverted to her maiden name, and also lost the freedom of the city of York after councillors voted unanimously to remove the honour over her links to Epstein.

She and Mountbatten-Windsor were given the honour as a wedding present from York in 1987 during a visit to the city.

Ferguson used to live with her ex-husband at his former home Royal Lodge but the King’s brother was forced to vacate the premises and move to Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The former duchess has also had to find a new home and could move abroad permanently.

A representative of Ferguson has been contacted for comment.