Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie may be excluded from royal events following their association with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, sources suggest. The sisters, daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, have been drawn into controversy after emails revealed Epstein paid for their flights to the US in 2009 to have lunch at his Palm Beach mansion.
The emails, part of the so-called 'Epstein files', also show Sarah making crude comments about Eugenie's love life and calling Epstein 'the brother I have always wished for'. Royal author Robert Jobson, who knows the family, said: 'They must be overwhelmed and aghast by this. What was she thinking? Taking her daughters – the late Queen's granddaughters – to meet this vile convicted criminal? It really beggars belief.'
Despite reports of a rift, a family friend denies Eugenie has cut off contact with her father. Beatrice was recently seen riding with Andrew and her daughter Sienna. Andrew, stripped of his titles in October, has left Royal Lodge for a cottage on the Sandringham estate. He denies any wrongdoing.
Sarah is reportedly lying low at an overseas spa, feeling guilty and worried about her mental health. The sisters' decision to spend Christmas with King Charles instead of their parents 'speaks volumes', according to Jobson. 'It might be hard to rebuild what they had,' he said.
