‘Tainted’ Sarah Ferguson’s ‘next move’ delivered brutal blow | Royal | News
Sarah Ferguson’s planned “next move” could be compromised by her involvement in her ex-husband’s Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The former Duchess of York, whose whereabouts have been unknown since she was evicted from Royal Lodge in Windsor alongside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in February, was reportedly offered six-figure interview deals with US outlets after being ousted from royal life.
But fresh revelations about her own relationship with the paedophile financier could jeopardise her lucrative career prospects, it has been suggested. Max Goldbart, international TV editor at US publication Deadline, said: “It is hard to tell whether they would now believe she is too tainted.”
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) released a new tranche of “Epstein files” earlier this year, including emails where Sarah praised Epstein as “the brother I have always wished for”, after his 2008 sex crime conviction.
While a tell-all interview may be off the table, and could turn out to be “somewhat jarring”, it would “undoubtedly make for good TV”, Mr Goldbart told the BBC.
“American audiences are fascinated by the Royal Family psychodrama, especially where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is currently confirmed,” he said.
If the speculated offers are rescinded, it will be a fresh blow to the 66-year-old, who had her titles stripped by the King last year and could now face losing her freedom of the City of York.
She was given the honour as a wedding present in 1987, but the City of York Council has scheduled a meeting on March 26 with the sole agenda of discussing stripping her of it.
Andrew’s freedom of the City of York was removed in 2022, when he became the first person to ever have it taken away.
The couple have also come under growing pressure to give lawmakers evidence about their links to Epstein, with congress members suggesting Sarah could provide “information related to the investigation”.
Six companies linked to the former duchess also starting winding down in the wake of the “Epstein files” publication, according to Companies House.
Sarah’s Trust, a charity she founded in 2018, also announced it would close “for the foreseeable future” just days after new details of her friendship with Epstein emerged in January.
Being mentioned in the files is no evidence of wrongdoing.
