Royal Sisters Beatrice and Eugenie 'Furious' Over Epstein Scandal Fallout
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are understood to be furious and deeply unhappy after being dragged into the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, with royal sources describing a "distinct cooling of attitudes" toward the sisters at Buckingham Palace in recent weeks.
Epstein Files Reveal 2009 Trip Details
Newly released documents from the so-called Epstein Files, part of three million documents made public by the US State Department in January, reveal that the princesses accompanied their mother Sarah Ferguson to the United States to meet Jeffrey Epstein in 2009. This occurred just days after Epstein's release from prison for soliciting a minor for prostitution. At the time, Beatrice was 20 years old and Eugenie was 19.
Emails from Ferguson's assistant indicate the sisters were keen to join their mother on the trip, leading Ferguson to ask the billionaire financier to fund first-class seats for herself and business-class seats for her daughters. A royal source commented: "Whatever way you look at it, it is a very uncomfortable reality that the entire York family indulged themselves at the expense of Epstein."
Palace Support Withdrawn Amid Growing Scandal
While King Charles invited both Beatrice and Eugenie to Sandringham for Christmas, offering a bold statement of support while their parents faced title stripping due to the Epstein scandal, the situation has reportedly changed dramatically. The sisters now feel "left out in the cold" by Buckingham Palace, with concerns mounting that they might lose their titles and privileges as a result of their parents' conduct.
Royal sources suggest there is "deep unease" about issuing any public statement regarding the princesses as allegations from the Epstein files continue to surface. Recent reports indicate the King may not invite them to Royal Ascot in June, where they would typically join the royal family. If they do attend, they would likely be excluded from the carriage procession.
Property Arrangements and Ongoing Investigations
The sisters, who are not full-time working royals, maintain residences on royal estates through historic deals arranged by their father. Beatrice has an apartment in St James's Palace, while Eugenie occupies Ivy Cottage, a three-bedroom property at Kensington Palace. These private arrangements with the King require them to pay an undisclosed rent, though it remains unclear if the terms mirror the "peppercorn" rental agreement their father had for Royal Lodge.
Meanwhile, their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, faces serious allegations. He was arrested on February 19 on charges of misconduct in a public office, accused of passing confidential information to Epstein during his tenure as a trade envoy. Ten police forces are investigating claims that he abused his position and entertained women trafficked to the UK by Epstein.
The King and Queen have expressed being "profoundly concerned," with the monarch stating "the law must take its course" following Andrew's arrest. As investigations into Andrew's relationship with Epstein proceed, the royal family continues to navigate the escalating scandal, with Beatrice and Eugenie caught in the crossfire.
