Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have gone through an “extraordinarily difficult” period since the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew emerged, a royal expert has said.
The Duke of York, 64, was mired in scandal after his relationship with American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was thrust into the spotlight in 2019.
He spoke about their friendship in a ‘car crash’ interview with Emily Maitliss on BBC Newsnight, which spawned two separate TV dramas, one of which premiered last month.
Andrew has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, has claimed that this period, and an ongoing dispute over Andrew’s tenancy at Royal Lodge, has had an impact on her daughters.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have gone through an “extraordinarily difficult” period since the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew emerged, a royal expert said.
The Duke of York, 64, was mired in scandal after his relationship with American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein garnered attention in 2019.
she said OK! Magazine: ‘I imagine this whole thing has been extraordinarily difficult for Beatrice and Eugenie, especially for Beatrice because she participated in the recording of the interview.
“Beatrice strikes me as a very compassionate young woman and I’m sure she cares deeply for both her father and mother in all of this drama, especially with the renewed interest due to the latest documentary.
“However, there comes a time when you first have to take care of your own young family and I suspect Beatrice has already reached that.”
Princess Beatrice, 36, confirmed she is expecting her second child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi earlier this week. The couple already share a three-year-old daughter, Sienna.
And despite the difficulties the family has faced over the past five years, Bond believes the Yorks “remain an incredibly close-knit family.”
She said: “I highly doubt Beatrice is avoiding Royal Lodge, but like any young mother, she has a lot to deal with in her own life and in her own home at the moment.”
Andrew has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
Princess Eugenie of York and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Color ceremony in 2013.
Princess Beatrice is pregnant with her second child. The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is already the mother of Sienna Elizabeth, three, and her stepson Wolfie, eight.
Last month, sources claimed that Prince Andrew will be forced to pay for the upkeep and security of the Royal Lodge himself or consider living elsewhere because financial support from King Charles will cease.
Charles has long been trying to get his younger brother out of the 30-bedroom, £30million property in Windsor where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Andrew, the Duke of York, has insisted on staying at the mansion despite stepping down from official duties almost five years ago.
The King has been funding private guards at the mansion since Andrew’s £3m-a-year armed police officers were sacked in 2022 amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Beatrice, 36, shared a photo of Edo, Sienna and Wolfie walking in the woods.
But now pressure to move is growing as substantial subsidies from the King and Royal Family will not be available indefinitely, the BBC reported.
If Andrew can privately fund the maintenance and security costs then he will be able to stay, but if not he will have to consider living somewhere else.
Meanwhile, sources have told the BBC that moving to a smaller property like Frogmore Cottage would be due more to financial issues than family disagreements.
Charles is said to be at the end of his tether and has made it clear that there are now only “two possible options” for Andrew, The Times reported.
