Princess Eugenie Breaks Cover in Qatar Amid Epstein Scandal Fallout
Princess Eugenie has made her first public appearance since the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, travelling to Qatar for work as the scandal continues to engulf her parents. The 35-year-old mother of two, who serves as a director at the prestigious art dealer Hauser & Wirth, was photographed working at a high-end contemporary art fair in Doha this week.
Royal Family Tensions Mount
Eugenie's appearance in the Gulf comes just as her cousin Prince William and uncle King Charles issued unprecedented statements expressing their "concern" about mounting allegations against her father, Prince Andrew. The King has stated that Buckingham Palace is willing to "support" police in any investigation into Andrew, who stands accused of leaking confidential data to his paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Eugenie appeared to maintain her composure in photographs posted online, smiling as German influencer Caroline Daur placed a comforting arm around her. The image was shared on Instagram with the caption "REUNION!!! It's been too long", tagged at Art Basel 2026.
Daughters Caught in Parental Controversy
Royal insiders reveal that both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie find themselves in a difficult position, described as being "aghast" and "embarrassed" by what the Epstein files have revealed about their parents' relationship with such an "appalling" man. According to sources, the sisters are "standing by their mother despite the catastrophic damage" her emails to Jeffrey Epstein have caused them.
The insider explained: "The Yorks are just about holding it together as a family but this has put new strains on their relationships. The last I heard the daughters were still supporting both parents behind the scenes."
Conflicting Loyalties and Public Image
The situation presents particular challenges for Eugenie, who co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective, a charity campaigning to end modern slavery including sex trafficking. A royal source questioned: "How can she do that without saying anything about Epstein, Virginia Giuffre, and this new case of a woman who claims she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew?"
Insiders describe the princesses as being in a "terrible bind", loving their parents while recognizing how Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have "dragged them into Epstein's world and contaminated their own brands." The source added: "I think they should say something but I doubt they will because of their need to stay loyal to their parents in private while separating themselves in public."
Revelations from the Epstein Files
Documents released this week reveal disturbing details about Sarah Ferguson's relationship with Epstein, including:
- Fergie took her teenage daughters to meet Epstein just days after his release from jail for child prostitution offences
- She discussed her daughters' love and sex lives with Epstein over email
- Epstein was asked to pay almost $15,000 for flights for Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie to visit him in the US just 48 hours after his prison release
- Fergie suggested multiple times that Epstein should marry her
In one particularly troubling email from September 2009, Ferguson wrote about a woman: "You can marry her too. She is single and [sic] a great body." She added: "Ok well marry me and then we will employ her."
Family Dynamics Under Strain
While the Duke and Duchess of York are divorced, they have remained close to their daughters. The latest Epstein revelations have reportedly "put more pressure on their relationship", though the princesses are said to remain as supportive as possible to their parents in private, particularly their mother.
Sarah Ferguson has not been seen in public since the scandal broke, with Andrew already at Sandringham and Fergie rumoured to have gone into hiding abroad. The former duchess is said to want to stay in the Windsor area rather than move to Sandringham with her ex-husband.
Royal sources suggest Fergie may have limited options, though her daughters have reportedly offered potential solutions:
- Eugenie's Portuguese villa could provide accommodation
- Beatrice has a granny annex at her Cotswolds home
- A visit to her sister in Australia remains possible
Financial and Reputational Fallout
Fergie's reputation has been further damaged by revelations that she sold her Belgravia mews house for £3.85 million in August, money that was reportedly intended as an investment for Beatrice and Eugenie. The late Queen had given Ferguson money for her granddaughters as part of the divorce settlement, which is believed to have been used for the property purchase.
In emails released this week, Ferguson told Epstein she felt she was being "1000 per cent hung out to dry" and that "no woman has ever left the Royal family with her head." She added: "The [sic] cannot behead me, therefore they will discredit me. Totally to obliteration. I have no words."
As Princess Eugenie continues her work in Qatar, the royal family faces ongoing scrutiny over their connections to Jeffrey Epstein, with the York daughters navigating the complex terrain between family loyalty and public responsibility.
