In a touching display of family loyalty, King Charles is reportedly demonstrating his unwavering support for his nieces, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, during what has been described as a 'horrid' period for the young women.
A Royal Embrace Amidst Scandal
According to a prominent royal expert, the monarch is actively bringing the daughters of the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson into the core of royal life. This move comes despite the intense public scrutiny and scandals surrounding their parents, particularly their father's connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The King's commitment was highlighted recently when Princess Eugenie attended the King’s Foundation’s 35 under 35 network event last week. This marked her first official royal engagement since her father was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages and was evicted from his home at Royal Lodge.
Eugenie, who became an official mentor for the foundation in May 2025, was a visible presence at the event. Royal commentators have interpreted her appearance as a deliberate and poignant signal of support from King Charles, who has always maintained a strong bond with his nieces.
Expert Insight: Distancing from Parental Indiscretions
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward provided analysis on the situation, stating that the King's actions clearly separate the princesses and their work from the controversies of their parents.
She told The Sun: "What it means to my mind, is that the King is determined to embrace his nieces, both Beatrice and Eugenie and bring them into the royal fold in a way where they don’t feel they’re just being gratuitously pulled in, but they’re actually doing something for it."
Ms Seward expressed the King's sense of responsibility, noting the particularly difficult time for the sisters. "I think that Charles feels quite responsible for these two girls, because it’s been a hideous time for them. Really hideous," she said. "They’ve both got young children, and I know they’ve got supportive husbands, but they’ve both got young children, and I think it’s been very, very difficult."
The expert emphasised that this inclusion allows them to fulfil their roles within the family structure, which is important to them. "They’re actually part of the royal family, and they can do their bit, which I think is important to them."
A Signal of Faith and Family
Seward described Eugenie's appearance as "a very strong signal" from the monarch, one that conveys the principle that "the sins of the father are not reflected on the children."
She also pointed to the King's personal faith as a motivating factor, saying, "We always have to remember with King Charles that he’s a man of great faith. I think it’s great that he’s kind of embraced these two girls and their families and said, ‘don’t worry we are looking after you’."
This supportive stance from the King ensures that despite their father's fall from grace, both Beatrice and Eugenie will retain their official titles of Princess. This contrasts with their father, who was stripped of his title of Prince and his Duke of York designation.
The situation was further underscored as the Duke of York was seen for the first time since his titles were removed. He was spotted on a horse ride with a companion near Windsor Castle, his first public appearance since the scandal over his links to Jeffrey Epstein erupted anew.
