Sarah Ferguson has been cut off by seven charities today after damaging emails, which she had sent to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, surfaced.
The emails revealed that the Duchess of York had reached out to to the late disgraced financier, who she called a "supreme friend," to apologise for publicly disowning him just weeks earlier.
On Monday afternoon, Julia's House, a children's hospice, made the decision to part company with the Duchess of York - citing the recent disclosures.
This appeared to set off a domino effect as the duchess was then hit with a tsunami of other non-profits announcing they would also be cutting ties, totalling seven so far.
Joining Julia's House was the British Heart Foundation, the Children's Literacy Charity, the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Prevent Breast Cancer.
All seven charities released statements announcing the end of their association with their royal patron, which in some cases ended decades long relationships.
Sarah Ferguson has been dropped as by five charities where she served as patron
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In a statement, the Children's Literacy Charity announced: "Given the recent information which has come to light about the Duchess of York and Jeffrey Epstein, the Children’s Literacy Charity has asked the Duchess of York to step down from her role as Patron.
"We are grateful for the Duchess of York’s support for children’s literacy over the years but now feel it would be inappropriate for her to continue as Patron of the charity," it concluded.
The founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, said: "We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York's, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
"Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years," they continued.
"She was a patron but, in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity.
"We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past," the statement concluded.
The Duchess of York was patron of five of the non-profit organisations that have so far ended their association with her today
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The British Heart Foundation said: “Sarah, Duchess of York, is no longer serving as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation.
"We are grateful for the duchess’ support for our work and thank her for her past efforts to help us save and improve lives by funding pioneering research into cardiovascular disease," they said.
Prevent Breast Cancer said in their own simple statement: “The Duchess of York is no longer a patron of Prevent Breast Cancer.“
"We have advised her of this decision and thank her for her past support.”
The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals announced that the duchess would “step back from her position as patron with immediate effect.”
A spokeswoman for the Teenage Cancer Trust also stated that they have parted way with the Duchess of York, ending her 35-year term as patron.
The organisations cut ties with the duchess after new emails sent to to Jeffrey Epstein emerged over the weekend
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Beginning the exodus earlier today, Julia's House announced: "Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York's correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia's House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity."
"We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support," their statement concluded.
Monday's developments were catalysed by the emergence of Fergie’s past emails to Jeffrey Epstein over the weekend.
In correspondence from 2011, Sarah wrote to the late financier: “Sometimes the heart speaks better than the words. You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey.”
She added: “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me from what you were either told or read and I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that.”
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The Duchess of York was earlier dropped by the children's hospice charity, Julia's House, earlier today
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The Duchess assured him: “As you know, I did not, absolutely not, say the ‘P word’ [paedophile] about you but understand it was reported that I did.”
She claimed that she was “instructed to act with the utmost speed if I would have any chance of holding on to my career as a children’s book author and a children’s philanthropist.”
Just weeks earlier, the duchess publicly denounced Epstein in a front-page Evening Standard interview on March 7, 2011 after she received financial aid from the disgraced financier to settle debts - which had been facilitated by her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.
A spokesman for the duchess told GB News: “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.
"She does not resile from anything she said then. This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats," the spokesman concluded.