Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, is under renewed scrutiny following the most recent release of documents pertaining to the sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
With Ferguson back in the headlines and news that the charity she founded has closed for the foreseeable future, Newsweek explains Ferguson’s position in the British monarchy amidst the ongoing fallout.
The “Epstein files” refer to documents related to Epstein, and criminal investigations into his sex trafficking activities. Documents are being released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and expand disclosures under a law designed to reveal what the government knew about the financier’s sexual abuse of underage girls and his ties to wealthy and powerful figures.
The Justice Department released more than 3 million pages of material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Friday. This batch included some 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, Newsweek previously reported.
Being named in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Newsweek has contacted a representative for Ferguson for comment.
Who Is Sarah Ferguson?
Ferguson, commonly known by the nickname Fergie, is the former Duchess of York. She was born in 1959 and prior to her marriage, worked for a public relations firm and a publishing company. She began a relationship with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the now former prince, in 1985, and the two married in July of 1986.
The two separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. This attracted significant media attention at the time.
They share two daughters together, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Throughout her marriage and afterwards, Ferguson was involved with a number of charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust. She founded two charities, Children in Crisis and Sarah’s Trust.
Is Sarah Ferguson Still A Royal?
Ferguson is no longer considered a royal. She lost the title of Her Royal Highness (HRH) when she divorced Mountbatten-Windsor but kept the title of the Duchess of York. She ceased using the Duchess title after Mountbatten-Windsor announced that he would cease using his royal titles and is now known by her given name.
Are Sarah Ferguson’s Daughters Still In Line To The Throne?
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are still princesses. They are still in line to the throne, in ninth and 12th place, respectively.
The two have been known as princesses since birth, which has not changed. Nor has the line of succession.
History Of Sarah Ferguson’s Controversies
Ferguson was embroiled in a number of scandals in the years that followed her separation and later, her divorce, which in turn impacted her relationship with the royal family.
In 1992, while separated from Mountbatten-Windsor, images were published of Ferguson having her toes sucked by John Bryan, her financial adviser.
Ferguson was caught up in a cash-for-access scandal in May of 2010, after she was filmed by the News of the World offering an undercover reporter, who was posing as an Indian businessman, access to Andrew for £500,000 ($684,650). In the video footage, Ferguson is heard saying, “£500,000 when you can, to me, open doors,” and is seen taking away a briefcase that contained £40,000 ($54,768).
Later, Ferguson discussed it in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. She explained her behavior by saying she had been drinking and was “in the gutter” at that moment.
There have been a series of reports about debt and financial problems involving the former duchess.
There has also been scrutiny over Ferguson’s friendship with Epstein.
The files show correspondences between Ferguson and Epstein over email. The correspondence came after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for sex.
Email correspondence shows the former duchess appearing to use affectionate language in reference to Epstein. That included appearing to refer to him as the “brother I have always wished for” and writing, “You are a legend. I really don’t have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness.”
That came after previous files were made public that appeared to show Ferguson calling Epstein a “supreme friend.”
The scrutiny over her friendship with Epstein led to the termination of Ferguson’s role as a patron and spokesperson for multiple charities. The charity Sarah’s Trust, which was founded by Ferguson and focused on improving the lives of women and children, said that it will be closing for the “foreseeable future” following the revelations in the most recent documents.
In March of 2011, Ferguson told The Evening Standard: “I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me.
“I abhor peadophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say,” she said.
A statement released by the Ferguson’s spokesperson in 2025 read: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.
“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.”
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