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Sarah Ferguson has reportedly reappeared in public after months away from the spotlight, just days after the unexpected arrest of her former husband.
The 66-year-old former Duchess of York had remained out of view for weeks following the release of additional Department of Justice documents that included correspondence between her and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Being named in the Epstein files does not imply wrongdoing, but the renewed attention surrounding her and former Prince Andrew has led to further embarrassment for the Royal Family — a situation that escalated after Andrew’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
According to reports, Ms Ferguson has now been seen abroad for the first time since the controversy intensified, appearing to distance herself from the ongoing uproar linked to Andrew, with whom she had been living until recently.
It has been reported that she left the UK as her former husband became increasingly entangled in the controversy. She had not been publicly seen since attending the christening of her granddaughter, Athena Mapelli Mozzi, the daughter of Princess Beatrice. According to reports, she has since been staying in Zurich, Switzerland.
Her absence follows the publication of further documents from the US Department of Justice, which included correspondence indicating she had maintained amicable communication with Epstein while he was serving a prison sentence for serious offences.
The documents also revealed that she exchanged multiple emails with Epstein while he was serving a sentence for child sex offences. Epstein was released on July 22, 2009, after serving 13 months of an 18-month term for soliciting an underage girl for sex.
One email dated June 14, 2009 — less than a week before his release — shows a contact identified as “Sarah” seeking advice about one of the then Duchess of York’s business ventures.
In the message, she wrote: I need to ask you how I start The Mothers Army company so it can be commercial, how do I do that? Can you help me?
In a subsequent email sent on June 26, she signed off warmly, writing: I am alive… yes I did go to the first lady and she loved the Mothers Army. I am going to call you later Love you.
Her connection to Epstein ultimately led to the shutdown of her charitable organisation, Sarah’s Trust, which had been established to support grassroots initiatives tackling humanitarian and environmental challenges, food insecurity, and the systemic issues that sustain extreme poverty.
A spokesperson confirmed that the charity would be closed for the foreseeable future, just days after further details about her association with Epstein came to light.
According to the representative, the decision followed some months of internal discussions.
The statement explained that the move had been agreed upon by Ms Ferguson and the board of trustees.
As the spokesperson said: Our chair Sarah Ferguson and the board of trustees have agreed that with regret the charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future. This has been under discussion and in train for some months.
