Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are treading on thin ice, with one wrong move potentially seeing them exiled from the royal fold forever. The daughters of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have not had the easiest few years, inevitably becoming caught in the crossfire of their parents' association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The princesses, who have kept a low profile since Andrew and Sarah were evicted from their Windsor mansion and stripped of their titles last year, now appear to be branching off in separate directions, with their once-close relationship fractured by the ongoing scandal.
Sisters 'going their own ways'
Reports that Beatrice, 38, and Eugenie, 36, are "going their own ways" and "competitively fighting to hang on to their place within the monarchy" won't help their cause. A source told Woman's Day: "You'd think they'd want to join forces in this and help each other but that is not the route they're taking. It's every woman for herself."
The source said the sisters are worried about Prince William succeeding his father to the throne, fearing they could suddenly be "shut out of events like Royal Ascot or Christmas at Sandringham, or, worst of all, lose their homes".
William's resolutely distant attitude
If they think being at loggerheads and letting the furore surrounding their parents divide them will endear them to William, they are mistaken. The Prince of Wales has already shown, in his resolutely distant attitude towards his brother, that he has no time for unnecessary drama.
Though Beatrice and Eugenie have built private careers, the prestige of their royal associations remains their primary social currency, making rumours of their desperation to cling to it entirely plausible. And William has been largely expected to take a sympathetic view on them, with their perceived transgressions after all not bordering on the campaign of besmirchment waged by Harry after his exit from the Firm in 2020.
But the Prince of Wales's reported stance towards both his brother and uncle - understood to involve encouraging King Charles to take firm and decisive action against them - is a telling glimpse into how he will deal with distracting tumult during his reign. His decision to snub Harry's July visit in favour of a charity polo match spoke volumes. This is a senior royal who prioritises duty and obligation, in the mould of his grandmother, above all else.
Prioritising personal status
Beatrice and Eugenie's reported desperation to hold onto their royal perks veers dangerously close to the brand of entitlement that permanently fractured Harry and Meghan's relationship with the Firm. In both cases, there is a distinct sense of personal status being elevated above quiet public service - a dynamic guaranteed to leave a bad taste in William's mouth.
The future monarch has repeatedly shown he is not bound by the familial sentimentality that occasionally softens his father's approach. If the York sisters fail to recognise this shift and instead prioritise their own royal survival, they are in for a rude awakening.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have always strenuously denied claims of wrongdoing linked to Epstein.
