Sarah Ferguson Spotted in Public After Months Away Following Andrew Arrest
Sarah Ferguson has reportedly been seen in public for the first time after months out of sight, just days after her ex-husband Prince Andrew's shock arrest. The former Duchess of York, 66, had not been seen publicly for weeks following the release of new files by the Department of Justice, which included correspondence between her and convicted paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal Family Embarrassment Intensifies
While inclusion in the files does not suggest wrongdoing, the revelations have caused fresh embarrassment for the Royal Family, an ordeal that has intensified following the arrest of Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Ms Ferguson has now reportedly surfaced outside the UK, keeping herself separate from the furore surrounding Andrew, with whom she had lived until recently.
It is reported she left the UK as her former husband became further embroiled in scandal. She has not been seen in public since the Christening of her granddaughter Athena Mapelli Mozzi, the daughter of Princess Beatrice, and is said to have been staying in Zurich.
Epstein Correspondence Details Revealed
Ms Ferguson's absence comes as documents revealed correspondence with Epstein in multiple documents releases from the US Department of Justice, showing that she had spoken with the paedophile on friendly terms while he served time for heinous crimes. Among the revelations involving the royal was that she had repeatedly emailed with Epstein while he was serving a sentence for child sex offences.
Epstein was released from prison on July 22, 2009, having served 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting an underage girl for sex. In an email included in the files dated to June 14, 2009, just under a week before his release, a contact identified as "Sarah" emails him about one of the then Duchess of York's business initiatives.
The contact asks: "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 follow-up on June 26, she signs off an email with "love you", 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".
Charitable Foundation Closure
Her association culminated in the closure of her charitable foundation, Sarah's Trust, which was "dedicated to supporting frontline, grassroots work to address the humanitarian and environmental crisis, the hunger crisis and issues perpetuating cycles of extreme poverty". It was shuttered "for the foreseeable future", a spokesperson announced, just days after new details of her relationship with Epstein emerged.
The spokesperson said the decision had followed "some months" of discussion. They said it had also followed agreement between Ms Ferguson and her board of trustees, saying: "Our chair Sarah Ferguson and the board of trustees have agreed that with regret the charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future," a spokesman said on Monday evening. "This has been under discussion and in train for some months."
The public reappearance of Sarah Ferguson marks a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the Royal Family's connections to Jeffrey Epstein and the legal troubles facing Prince Andrew. Her decision to surface outside the UK suggests a strategic move to distance herself from the controversy while the investigation into her ex-husband continues to unfold.
