Seven charities have removed the Duchess of York from association as a patron or ambassador after the Mail on Sunday and Sun newspapers published emails between her and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In them, she described the convicted pedophile as her "supreme friend", appearing to apologise for public shunning of him in emails sent after she had ceased open contact with him.
"You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family,” she wrote. Sarah Ferguson is the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, who stopped working as a royal due to his own infamous association with Epstein.
Just a few weeks earlier, the Duchess of York had publicly cut off involvement with Epstein, saying that her relationship with him, which included borrowing money, had been a "gigantic error of judgement" and adding: "What he did was wrong and for which he was rightly jailed."
The duchess claimed she would "have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again" only for the subsequent email to note that she "humbly apologised" to him, saying that she "know[s] you feel hellaciously let down by me".
Read more: William and King 'at odds over whether to disown Sarah Ferguson and Andrew after Epstein revelations
According to the BBC, a spokesperson for the duchess said her subsequent email to Epstein, describing him as a friend, was written to counter a threat from him to sue her for defamation and that her claims to regret any association with him was still true.
"This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats," said a statement from her spokesman.
Despite this attempt to add context to the email, seven charities have removed association to Sarah Ferguson. Here’s a closer look at which organisations have done so, and which haven’t.
Which charities have dropped Sarah Ferguson?
A children’s hospice, Julia's House, was the first organisation to drop Sarah Ferguson as a patron, saying it was "inappropriate" for her to continue in the role.
The Teenage Cancer Trust, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Children's Literacy Charity, National Foundation for Retired Service Animals and Prevent Breast Cancer were also quick to follow in announcing the duchess would no longer serve as a patron, while the British Heart Foundation removed her as one of their ambassadors.
A spokesperson for the duchess told the BBC that she would not be commenting on the charities' decisions to end their links with her.
At the time of writing, the duchess still has links to the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals in her social media.
Read more: It was hard to think how Fergie's reputation could have got worse, but she's managed it
What charities is Fergie still supporting?
With those seven charities all removing contact, the duchess’ only official role left is as the founder of Sarah’s Trust, as this is her own foundation.
It supports women, children, families and communities around the world by offering guidance and aid to smaller organisations on the ground.
