Princess Eugenie Ends Patronage of Anti-Slavery Charity After Epstein Files Release
Princess Eugenie has stepped down as patron of AntiSlavery International, the United Kingdom's oldest human rights organisation, in a move that follows the publication of millions of documents related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The charity, founded in 1839 by abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, confirmed the end of her seven-year patronage, with her profile removed from its official website.
Epstein Documents Cast Shadow Over Royal Family
The decision comes after the US Department of Justice released extensive files detailing Epstein's role in sexual abuse and human trafficking, which have severely tarnished the reputation of her father, Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Eugenie, her sister Princess Beatrice, or their mother Sarah Ferguson, the association has prompted her departure from the anti-slavery charity.
In a statement shared with the Observer, AntiSlavery International expressed gratitude for Eugenie's support, stating: "After seven years, our patronage from HRH Princess Eugenie of York has come to an end. We thank the Princess very much for her support for AntiSlavery International. We hope that she continues to work to end slavery."
Eugenie's Anti-Slavery Advocacy and Financial Scrutiny
Princess Eugenie, who works as a director for the art gallery Hauser & Wirth, has long campaigned against modern slavery and trafficking. In 2017, she co-founded a separate charity, the Anti-Slavery Collective, with her friend Julia de Boinville. However, this organisation has faced scrutiny from the Charity Commission over its expenditure.
Financial records for the year ending 5 April 2025 reveal that the Anti-Slavery Collective spent more than twice as much on salaries, totalling £191,537, compared to £97,206 on charitable programmes. This imbalance has raised concerns about the allocation of funds within the charity.
Allegations Against Prince Andrew and Family Connections
The Epstein files have intensified allegations against Prince Andrew, including claims by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was paid $15,000 to have sex with him during a 2001 trip to the UK. Giuffre died by suicide in April last year. Additionally, lawyer Brad Edwards revealed in January that a second woman has alleged she was sent to the UK in 2010 for a sexual encounter with the then Prince Andrew, who denies all wrongdoing.
Sarah Ferguson maintained a friendship with Epstein for several years, even writing to him during his jail sentence for procuring a minor for prostitution. Emails indicate that Ferguson, along with Eugenie and Beatrice, flew to the US shortly after his release in July 2009, meeting him for lunch in Miami while he was under house arrest and registered as a sex offender.
Key Witnesses in Prince Andrew's Defence
Both Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are considered potential key witnesses in their father's account of his links with Epstein. Prince Andrew has claimed that on the night he was alleged to have slept with Giuffre in March 2001, he was at home with his children after taking Beatrice to a party at Pizza Express in Woking. Neither sister has publicly commented on this account, adding to the ongoing silence from the royal family regarding the allegations.
The Anti-Slavery Collective has been approached for comment but has not yet responded. Princess Eugenie has not made any public statements regarding the Epstein files or the allegations against her father, maintaining a low profile amidst the growing scandal.
