Charities sever ties to Duchess of York

THE Teenage Cancer Trust has dropped Sarah, Duchess of York as patron after 35 years following the disclosure of an email to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in which she described him as a “supreme friend”.

- JOSH PAYNE [e-mail]

Several charities severed ties with the duchess yesterday, including Wiltshire and Dorset-based children's hospice Julia's House, after it emerged she apologised to the sex offender in April 2011 after publicly disowning him in the media.

In a statement, the Teenage Cancer Trust said: “We have made the decision to end our relationship with the Duchess of York, and as of today she is no longer a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust.

“We have communicated this decision to the duchess. We would like to thank the Duchess of York for her support.”

‘The charity's announcement followed similar statements from Julia's House, Prevent Breast Cancer, and ‘The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, who all cut ties with the duchess yesterday.

‘The British Heart Foundation also said the duchess was no longer a serving ambassador for the charity.

Julia's House was the first to announce its decision to end its association with the duchess, saying it would be “inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity” - citing her correspondence with Epstein as a deciding factor.