Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have reportedly been told they will not be allowed to attend this year's Royal Ascot, a decision that has left them 'completely blindsided', according to sources cited by the Mail on Sunday. The exclusion comes amid the ongoing scandal surrounding their father, Prince Andrew, and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The sisters, aged 37 and 35, will not take their usual seats in the Royal Box at the prestigious horse-racing event in June, nor will they join senior royals for the Royal Procession. A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'I've spoken to my friend who works at Ascot and they said the girls have been told they can't be there this year. Beatrice has taken it the hardest. She's been completely blindsided by all of this.'
TalkTV commentator Kinsey Schofield suggested that the exclusion may stem from the sisters' refusal to undergo an 'ethics check' on their personal investments, as proposed by Prince William. 'They say in November the York women turned down Prince William's suggestion to do an ethics check on their personal investments. That's when Prince William began to be concerned about their presence,' Schofield said. She added that William believed they might have been 'involuntarily involved with some of their mother and father's shady business people' and wanted to protect them.
Reports indicate that the exclusion from Ascot is part of a broader decision to bar the princesses from all public-facing royal events for the foreseeable future. The move is seen as a precautionary measure to limit reputational risks following Prince Andrew's arrest last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Kevin O'Sullivan of TalkTV noted that Harry and Meghan had previously offered support to Beatrice and Eugenie, but that support has reportedly been removed. 'They're not backing them anymore, nor are William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales. They're particularly cold towards these two girls,' O'Sullivan said. He added that King Charles has made it clear that the sisters will not be welcome at Ascot or other royal events going forward.
