Virginia Giuffre’s Family Demands Duchess of York Be Stripped of Title Over Epstein Ties
Virginia Giuffre’s family has called for the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, to be stripped of her courtesy royal title after a 2011 email surfaced in which she referred to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a “supreme friend.”
The email, published by the Mail on Sunday and the Sun, appeared to be written just weeks after Ferguson publicly stated Epstein was “rightly jailed” and claimed to have cut off contact with him. In the message, Ferguson also expressed regret over her previous public criticism of Epstein.
The revelation has led to seven charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and British Heart Foundation, severing ties with Ferguson. Ms. Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, told BBC Newsnight that if the duchess cannot safeguard vulnerable people, she should not hold positions of power. Roberts said, “For sure” Ferguson should lose her courtesy title, emphasizing that those who witness wrongdoing should be held accountable.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of York explained that the email was sent to counter Epstein’s threat of a defamation lawsuit and that Ferguson regretted any association with him. Ferguson herself has stated she “humbly apologised” and acknowledged that Epstein may have felt “hellaciously let down” by her.
Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew three times after being trafficked by Epstein, died by suicide in April at age 41 in Western Australia. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022, which included no admission of liability or apology, though he lost royal patronages and military titles over the case. He has retained the title of Duke of York.
A courtesy royal title, such as the one Ferguson holds, is retained by individuals associated with a peer or member of the royal family but does not constitute a substantive title. Ferguson has kept her title despite her divorce from Prince Andrew, similar to how Diana, Princess of Wales, retained her title after her separation from then-Prince Charles.
Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, stressed the importance of accountability for all those involved in Epstein’s crimes. He said, “Carrying on her legacy is very important to us and accountability is our number one motivator. And certainly Prince Andrew was involved in that – as are so many men that are still out there that need to be investigated.” The family continues to call for full investigation into Prince Andrew regarding the sexual abuse allegations.
Ms. Giuffre’s claims against Prince Andrew date back to 2001, when she was allegedly trafficked by Epstein at age 17. The Duke has denied all allegations. In response to the controversy over Ferguson’s email, charities have removed her as patron or ambassador, and she has chosen not to comment publicly on the decisions.
The situation has reignited scrutiny of the royal family and highlighted the ongoing need for accountability, regardless of rank or status. The Giuffre family remains committed to ensuring that those involved in Epstein’s crimes are fully investigated and held responsible under the law.
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