The family of Virginia Giuffre has called on US charities to follow British organisations in cutting ties with the Duchess of York.

The Duchess came under intense scrutiny this week after it emerged she had sent an email to Epstein in which she described him as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend”.

The email was sent in 2011, after Epstein was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution.

The revelation prompted several leading UK charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, to drop their associations with her.

On Tuesday, the family of Ms Giuffre, who claimed to have been forced to have sex with the Duke of York, the Duchess’s ex-husband, said the decision was “commendable”.

“It is commendable that these seven charities have cut ties with Sarah Ferguson in light of her connections to Epstein,” the family said in a statement to The Times.

“This decisive action sends a strong message about accountability and the need to confront those who support the horrific child trafficking network established by Epstein and Maxwell.”