Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie reportedly received word that they would not be attending Royal Ascot due to their parents’ complicated history with the late convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
Their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, have faced significant scrutiny following Andrew’s arrest on February 19 regarding allegations related to misconduct in public office.
As a result of the ongoing scandal, Beatrice and Eugenie have been informed they cannot take part in Royal Ascot this June or join the Royal Parade with their families, as outlined in a report by Daily Mail.
According to the newspaper, the two sisters felt “blindsided” by this decision.
It’s also been mentioned that Prince William and Duchess Kate are looking to maintain distance from their cousins, suggesting that this exclusion is part of a broader strategy to keep Beatrice and Eugenie from future public royal engagements.
Prince William, at 43, is said to have advised other royals to avoid being photographed with the princesses for the rest of the year.
Responses from Beatrice and Eugenie’s representatives at Buckingham Palace were not immediately available.
Interestingly, just before her father’s arrest, Eugenie was seen skiing in Switzerland, enjoying a getaway in Gstaad with her husband Jack Brooksbank, their children, and friends.
Despite having attended Royal Ascot in previous years, the sisters are now tied to their parents’ connections to Epstein, which has led to this current situation.
Following Andrew’s arrest, which occurred on his birthday when he turned 66, he was released after hours of questioning.
An eyewitness remarked on Eugenie’s visibility during her recent vacation, expressing surprise given the circumstances.
Meanwhile, Ferguson is reportedly in Switzerland herself, facing scrutiny due to her past ties with Epstein.
She has entered a recovery clinic in Zurich, which is known to be quite costly, exceeding $17,500 per night.
If convicted, Andrew faces significant repercussions, potentially including life imprisonment.
Reports indicate that should Ferguson return to the UK, she might be questioned by Thames Valley police, as they arrested Andrew’s ex-girlfriend. Although there’s no current evidence suggesting Ferguson did anything wrong, legal experts suggest she could be a relevant witness in the ongoing case.
Having divorced Andrew in 1996, Ferguson lost her title of Duchess of York in late 2025 amid the Epstein controversy, though reports indicate she would continue to support Andrew regardless.
