Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will likely have been left ‘devastated’ by the latest revelations surrounding their parents, experts have revealed – as a question mark hangs over the future of their public lives.
This week, the sisters’ mother Sarah Ferguson was dropped by seven charities after a leaked email revealed by the Mail on Sunday showed her apologising to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, despite publicly disavowing him.
Prince Andrew has already been forced to relinquish all his public duties and offices as a result of his association with Epstein and is barred from attending official royal events.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal experts have told how the coming months will be ‘deeply painful’ for the former couple’s daughters Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, who are known to be very close with their mother, the Duchess of York.
The sisters, despite not being working royals, have HRH titles and are ninth and 12th in line to the throne respectively.
They have public patronages and projects they are passionate about: for Beatrice, this includes dyslexia, while Eugenie is committed to ending modern slavery.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams affirmed that while their ‘current projects’ are unlikely to be affected by their parents’ now ‘toxic’ brand, the princesses’ public future is much more unclear.
Richard explained that Beatrice and Eugenie’s personal ‘closeness’ to their parents may mean they are not involved ‘at least for a period, probably a considerable period, in new charitable projects’.
Royal experts have revealed what might happen to Princess Beatrice and Eugenie after Fergie’s leaked email. Pictured together on a visit to the Teenage Cancer Trust in April
He said: ‘When a brand becomes toxic, its effect obviously spreads to public figures who are attached to it.
‘They are well established as a duo with constructive reach and for this reason I doubt that any of their current projects will be affected by the toxicity which has affected the York brand. I am, of course, assuming that no embarrassing information comes to light which involves them personally.
‘The Duchess of York’s disgrace is huge news, however, and likely to cause them both enormous personal hurt.
‘The Yorks have always been a close-knit family. However, their closeness to their parents is likely to mean that they are not involved, at least for a period, probably a considerable period, in new charitable projects.
‘This will be a deeply painful period for the sisters as their parents are both likely to languish in public disgrace and foreseeably so.’
Though they do not carry out official duties, the sisters have previously stepped up to the Royal Fold in an unofficial capacity, such as joining William and Kate to host the first garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace.
Days later, the King’s Foundation announced Eugenie would be a mentor for its new 35 Under 35 network.
In May, Princess Beatrice joined King Charles and Camilla at Kew Gardens for an official event, and is one of seven Counsellors of State, who undertake official duties on behalf of the King if he is unable to do so.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025
The sisters both have their own careers – Beatrice is vice-president at US tech company Afiniti, while Eugenie is an art director at gallery Hauser & Wirth.
In terms of patronages and projects, Beatrice is patron of organisations such as the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, while Eugenie fronts the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity and is the co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Collective.
Both are mothers to young children: Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed baby daughter Athena back in January, a sister to daughter Sienna and her step-son Wolfie. Eugenie and Jack Brookbank have sons August, four, and Ernest, two.
However, royal author Phil Dampier suggested that any hope of the Princesses one day playing a greater role in King Charles’s slimmed-down monarchy could now be called into question.
He said: ‘I also believe they would do more for the royal family if the King asked them, but that is probably a non-starter now that both the Duke and Duchess of York are in the doghouse.’
However, he said that the sisters’ good reputation – with their own careers and families – will stand them in good stead to avoid the consequences of their parents’ actions.
‘Bea and Eugenie will obviously be devastated by what has happened to their parents but they are old enough and now wise enough to know the truth,’ Phil told the Daily Mail.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie both have young families. Pictured: Eugenie with sons August and Ernest
‘The late Queen always said that whatever her faults, Sarah Ferguson was a ‘good mother’ and her daughters are a testament to that.
‘They are both now happily married mothers and they do good work for their own charities.
‘Bea and Eugenie have carved out their own careers and come across as popular and well-balanced individuals.’
The York sisters have not been seen in public with their father for several years, but have remained close with their mother Fergie, for example, making a joint visit to the Teenage Cancer Trust at University College Hospital in London together in April.
Eugenie also shared a snap of her mother to celebrate International Women’s Day in April, and a gushing post for her birthday last October.
‘Happy birthday to my beautiful mumma,’ she said at the time. ‘So proud of the Grannie you are, the mum you are and the woman you are.
‘You’re an inspiration and our endless chats bring me so much happiness and incredible support.’
Phil commented: ‘It must hurt them deeply to see how low their parents have sunk, but they are still doting grandparents and that will continue.
‘Fergie always used to call herself and her daughters “The Tripod” implying they are inseparable. I’m not sure that’s still true but they will remain loyal behind the scenes.’
Richard Fitzwilliams added that there is ‘still more to come’, which will bring greater clarity to Beatrice and Eugenie’s futures.
He said: ‘It is obvious that Sarah Ferguson is joining her ex-husband in disgrace as the email just released shows her grovelling to the then convicted sex offender Epstein, who had helped her pay off her debts and whom she had sworn, in a public apology, to break all contact with.
‘However, as the author of Entitled, a biography of the Yorks, Andrew Lownie, makes clear in today’s Daily Mail, there may be more to come, much more.
‘This would be cataclysmic for Sarah Ferguson and the posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre, who sued Andrew for sexually abusing her, which he strongly denies, is due next month.’
Andrew Lownie’s biography of the family, Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House of York, released earlier this year, also implied that there could be a closer link between the sisters and their father than has previously been thought.
Lownie alleged that Libyan businessman Tarek Kaituni gifted Princess Beatrice an £18,000 diamond necklace at her 21st birthday party and boasted that he could ‘influence’ when it came to commercial products.
According to his girlfriend, Muna Hamrouni, Andrew had tried to broker a consultancy job for Kaituni.
It comes after the Duchess of York was dropped by seven charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust and British Heart Foundation after new revelations about her contact with Epstein.
Children’s charity Julia’s House said it would be ‘inappropriate’ to stay involved with Sarah Ferguson after her emailed apology to Epstein emerged – and other organisations have swiftly followed suit.
The exposé uncovered how ‘Fergie’ wrote to Epstein to apologise for disavowing him in a public statement following his conviction for child sexual abuse offences.
The founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation announced they are severing ties with Sarah, who was previously one of their patrons – while fellow charity Prevent Breast Cancer announced a similar move.
The Children’s Literacy Charity has also asked her to step down as patron, calling any continued role ‘inappropriate’ after what it described as ‘the recent information’ which came to light about the Duchess of York and Epstein.
And the Teenage Cancer Trust this afternoon revealed the Duchess was no longer a patron of the charity which she has long backed since it opened its first unit in 1990, and to whom she introduced her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, who remain as patrons.
The British Heart Foundation, one of the UK’s largest charities, confirmed they have also dropped the royal as an ambassador, adding: ‘We are grateful for the Duchess’ support for our work and thank her for her past efforts to help us save and improve lives by funding pioneering research into cardiovascular disease.’
The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals removed all mention of the Duchess from its ‘wonderful ambassadors’ page. The charity had previously featured a photo of ‘our amazing Royal Patron’ posing with a dog. It has since confirmed the royal has been dropped.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were seen travelling by Range Rover leaving Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle in Berkshire yesterday.
In the newly published correspondence, Sarah issued a grovelling apology to Epstein for publicly disassociating herself from ‘her supreme friend’ when it emerged he had bailed her out financially – and she insisted she had only done so to save her career as a children’s author.
Julia’s House said in a statement: ‘Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity.
‘We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.’
Prince Andrew, Duke of York hosts the annual Not Forgotten Association Garden Party, accompanied by Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (L) at Buckingham Palace on May 26, 2016
The Duchess’ visits to the Julia’s House Children’s Hospice in Devizes, Wiltshire, included one in October 2018 – of which she shared photos on Instagram.
Writing on the social media site then, Fergie described the hospice as a ‘sanctuary of harmony and joy’ and praised the staff who support families and children with life limiting conditions.
She no longer appears on the Julia’s House website, nor the Teenage Cancer Trust which until this afternoon was still saying of her online: ‘The Duchess has been Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since we opened our first unit in 1990 at the Middlesex Hospital in London.
‘Since then, she has opened most of our new units, including our Glasgow unit in 2016, our units in Southampton and Edinburgh in 2013, and Great North Children’s Hospital with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice in 2010.
‘The Duchess is well recognised as a passionate advocate for wellness and education worldwide. She has also written a number of books including a 12 book series called ‘Helping Hands’ with Lloyds pharmacy and a four book children’s series about the adventures of Little Red.
‘The Duchess was a Producer on the film The Young Victoria, released in the UK in March 2009 and fronted the HELLO! Magazine Christmas Appeal which shone a light on the incredible work of Teenage Cancer Trust’s nurses, youth support teams and hospital units.’
The bombshell leaked email shows Sarah wrote to the convicted sex offender to ‘humbly apologise’ in 2011 just weeks after telling the press she had cut all ties with him.
In an earlier interview that year, she described her involvement with Epstein, who had served time for soliciting prostitution from a minor, as a ‘gigantic error of judgment’.
A spokesperson for Sarah has now said the email was sent to counter an aggressive threat Epstein had made to sue her for defamation.
In recent years the Duke and, now, his ex-wife, have even appeared with the Royal Family on their annual walk to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day, as well as Windsor Castle at Easter.
One source has told the Daily Mail that the King has tried ‘every avenue available to him’ to ring-fence his brother.
This includes cutting off all his private funding, withdrawing his security and trying to persuade him to downsize from Royal Lodge, his 30-room mansion at Windsor, by offering him alternative accommodation – such as Harry and Meghan’s former home, Frogmore Cottage.
Earlier this month it emerged that US investigators could have access to a damaging ‘cache’ of emails written by the Duke to Epstein, that could prove even more ‘explosive’ than those pertaining to his ex-wife.
Some insiders believe Charles will now have no option but to explore ways to prevent his brother attending family events in a private capacity too – or at least if does, do so in a less conspicuous manner, through the back door.
A source said, ‘It is about the last sanction he may be able to take’ – while pointing out there was a ‘real fear’ there might be more of this to come.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie has suggested the latest revelations could lead to publishers and charities severing their ties with the Duchess.
Prince Andrew has long been tarnished by his associations with Epstein, especially the notorious 2001 photograph of him with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who accused the billionaire of trafficking her.
Sarah Ferguson is believed to have first met Epstein in the 1990s having been introduced by American British businesswoman Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the widow of banking tycoon Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, once one of Britain’s richest men.
In a testimony published last month, Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking, described the Duchess as a ‘frenemy’ who lusted after Epstein.
Maxwell said of the Duchess: ‘She had a thing for him… and I thought that Sarah was trying to put the moves on Jeffrey.’
Epstein accuser Ms Giuffre died by suicide, aged 41, at her farm home near Perth in Australia.
She had previously told how Epstein and Maxwell kept her as a sex slave while flying her around the world and offering her to their powerful associates ‘like a platter of fruit‘.
She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17 and was three times sexually assaulted by him – a claim which Prince Andrew has denied.
The prince reached an out-of-court settlement with her in 2022.
Andrew has denied her allegations and said he could not recall ever meeting her.
A photograph has been widely shared of them together in a London townhouse, his arm around her bare midriff, and was included in Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit against him.
Epstein killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving dozens of teenage girls and young women, some as young as 14.
