Following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest and the recent release of millions of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein, which has led to further allegations over links between both Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and the convicted paedophile, the public are also wondering what will become of their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
While Andrew has consistently denied all wrongdoing, the scandal has still sent unprecedented shockwaves through the Palace.
Both are mentioned in the Epstein files too, with one email appearing to suggest the Princesses accompanied their mother to meet Epstein shortly after his release from prison after being found guilty of soliciting a minor for prostitution.
There is no suggestion Beatrice or Eugenie have committed any crimes, and they were just 19 and 21 at the time of the alleged post-prison lunch with Epstein.
Recently, Parliament has opened up the debate on whether or not to remove Andrew from the line of succession, following his arrest and the investigation centred on the King's brother allegedly sharing confidential government documents with the disgraced financier during his decade as a UK trade envoy.
Naturally, everyone is wondering what this means for Beatrice and Eugenie’s constitutional rights. If Parliament moves against their father, do the princesses get dragged down with him? According to Dr Craig Prescott, a specialist in UK constitutional law, their birthrights remain relatively secure for now.
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Dr Prescott told The Express, “Beatrice and Eugenie are there in the line of succession in their own right. So it would depend on what is agreed, but typically they [MPs] will try and do the least possible when it comes to legislating about the monarchy, so it’s likely just Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will be removed.”
According to another royal expert, Hilary Fordwich, the sisters are still very much caught in the crossfires of their parents' scandals – and must now choose whether to stay close to them or embed themselves further into the monarchy, with King Charles and their cousin Prince William.
Speaking to Fox News, Fordwich said, “While both daughters were loyal to their parents, they now face the untenable choice of whether salvaging their own futures must prevail, given even their maiden York name is so toxic.”
Fordwich added that the princesses are “understandably distressed” by the contents of the Epstein files.
To survive this royal crisis, a strategic and highly visible separation might be their only viable option. “They will no doubt create even more visible distance from their parents while perhaps still supporting them privately,” Fordwich predicts. “They now have tough decisions to make.”
