Sarah Ferguson is expected to keep her distance from Princess Eugenie's third child amid ongoing scrutiny over her and Prince Andrew's links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to royal commentators.
The former Duchess of York, 66, has been a hands-on grandmother to Princess Beatrice's two children and Eugenie's sons August and Ernest, but sources suggest she will take a step back this time. Royal editor Emily Nash told HELLO! magazine: "While their grandmother and grandfather have spent plenty of time with August and Ernest, they are likely to keep more of a distance this time around, although I’m sure Sarah will find it very hard to stay away from a new grandchild."
Eugenie, 36, announced her pregnancy last week through an official Buckingham Palace statement, a move seen as signalling her continued favour with the royal family despite her parents' controversies. The shift in family dynamics is expected to affect Ferguson's role, with Nash adding: "This baby will be born into very different family dynamics to those experienced by his or her older siblings."
Prince Andrew lost his royal titles last year and has faced longstanding allegations over his friendship with Epstein, which he denies. Ferguson had previously described Epstein as a "supreme friend" in emails, further fuelling public scrutiny. Despite this, Nash noted that King Charles's warm response to Eugenie's news shows he still holds affection for his niece, suggesting she may re-enter the family fold.
"The King’s warm words show that he still has a great deal of affection for Eugenie and that he has not ostracized his nieces. We might well start seeing them at family gatherings again," Nash said. The baby will be a source of joy after a difficult period for the Yorks, she added.
