The fallout from the ongoing release of Jeffrey Epstein files continues to reverberate through British society, now impacting the business interests of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Six companies linked to Ferguson are currently in the process of being wound down, according to filings with Companies House, the UK’s registrar of companies.
The companies – S Phoenix Events, Fergie’s Farm, La Luna Investments, Solamoon Ltd, Philanthrapreneur Ltd, and Planet Partners Productions Ltd – are all listed with Ferguson as the sole director. Applications to strike the companies off the register were filed following the publication of further details regarding Ferguson’s correspondence with Epstein, as reported by The Guardian and the BBC.
While the precise nature of the businesses’ activities remains largely unclear – one is noted as relating to public relations and another to retail – filings indicate that none were particularly commercially active. The move to dissolve these entities comes amidst increasing scrutiny of Ferguson’s relationship with Epstein, which stretches back years and continued even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Recent disclosures from the Epstein files have revealed a series of increasingly candid and, at times, startling exchanges between Ferguson and the convicted sex offender. In one email from 2011, Ferguson reportedly wrote to Epstein, “I am at your service. Just marry me.” Another exchange revealed her expressing hurt that she believed Epstein had only befriended her to gain access to Prince Andrew. These messages, published last month, have prompted widespread public discussion and raised serious questions about the nature of their connection.
The repercussions extend beyond Ferguson’s personal business dealings. Her charity, Sarah’s Trust, announced earlier this month it would suspend operations “for the foreseeable future” in the wake of the revelations. Several other charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, have severed ties with Ferguson and revoked her patronage. The fallout has also impacted her creative endeavors; a children’s book authored by Ferguson was cancelled last autumn and pulped after she was stripped of her royal divorcee title.
The timing of these developments is significant. The release of the Epstein files has been staggered, with new documents emerging periodically, each wave intensifying public and media attention. The latest disclosures appear to have triggered a cascading series of consequences for Ferguson, accelerating the closure of her companies and prompting a reassessment of her public role.
The applications to strike off the companies will result in them ceasing to trade and ultimately being removed from the register unless legal objections are raised. S Phoenix Events, in particular, lists Ferguson as the individual authenticating the application, indicating her direct involvement in the process.
The situation highlights the enduring power of the Epstein files to unravel connections and expose previously undisclosed relationships. While being named in the files is not, in itself, an indication of wrongdoing, the revelations have clearly prompted a reevaluation of Ferguson’s associations and a significant disruption to her business and charitable activities. A spokesperson for the former Duchess of York has been approached for comment, but has not yet responded.
The broader context is one of increasing accountability surrounding individuals who had ties to Epstein. The ongoing scrutiny serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of his crimes and the lasting consequences for those connected to him, even years after his death. The closure of these six companies represents a tangible consequence of that scrutiny, and a further chapter in a continuing story.
