Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Are Emotionally Drained and Distancing Themselves From Their Parents
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are distancing themselves from their parents, the former Duke and Duchess of York.
“Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are reportedly emotionally drained by their parents’ involvement in the Epstein scandal,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital in an interview prior to Andrew’s recent arrest.
Prince Andrew arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
The sisters have found themselves caught in the middle of the many scandals engulfing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. On Thursday, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The shocking development is the first time in nearly four centuries that a member of the British royal family has been arrested. The move comes several months after King Charles III stripped his younger brother of his prince title and evicted him and his ex-wife from their home in the Royal Lodge. For years, Andrew has faced scrutiny and criticism for his ties to Epstein and his connections to Virginia Giuffre, who was sex trafficked by Epstein and had accused the former prince of assaulting her when she was 17. (Giuffre died by suicide in 2025.)
“This is the most spectacular fall from grace for a member of the royal family in modern times,” Craig Prescott, a royal expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, told the Associated Press.
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice feel ‘duped’ by their father
The princesses have not publicly reacted to the latest development in Andrew’s saga. But royal insiders say the ongoing revelations about their father have strained their relationship.
“They are pretty torn because they believed [their father],” royal author Robert Jobson told People earlier this year after emails in the Epstein files revealed the former prince had lied about cutting off ties with the disgraced financier. “Just like the late Queen and Charles, Andrew told them all the same story — that he had done nothing wrong. My understanding is they feel pretty duped by the whole thing.”
“I do think they believed their father, and now it has all backfired,” the Windsor Legacy author added. “I know that Eugenie, especially, has found it very difficult.”
To make matters worse, both Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, are mentioned in the Epstein files. The sisters, then 21 and 19, apparently dined with Epstein after he was released from prison in 2009. In another email to Epstein, Sarah Ferguson appears to reference Eugenie’s romantic life, writing that’s she’s had a “shagging weekend.”
“They need to separate themselves publicly from their parents, otherwise [they] risk the toxicity spreading further to them,” royal commentator Richard Palmer told the BBC.
Princess Eugenie refuses to speak to Prince Andrew
Chard says that Beatrice and Eugenie are stunned about the latest developments involving their parents.
“Their relationship is strained,” she said. “Horrified, frustrated and crestfallen over the scandalous, shocking revelations, the York princesses are now prioritizing their own families and careers. The breakdown in trust over the reports has devastated both princesses. They feel they have been fed a pack of lies about their parents’ involvement.”
Eugenie is reportedly taking the news harder than Beatrice. One insider says that she is refusing to speak to her father, adding, “it’s Brooklyn Beckham level—she has completely cut him off.”
“Beatrice is trying to walk the fine line of not cutting her father off and yet remaining close with the Royal Family,” the source continued.
Both Beatrice and Eugenie have a good relationship with Charles, which experts say should help insulate them from the fallout from Andrew’s scandal. While they are not working royals, they have been included in recent family gatherings, unlike Sarah and Andrew, who have been deliberately excluded. Now, with Andrew’s arrest, it seems even more likely that the princesses will continue to separate themselves from their father, at least in the public.
For more news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.
