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The Duke and Duchess of York aren’t the only ones feeling the fallout from their unapologetic embrace of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Their daughters, Beatrice, 37, and 35-year-old Eugenie, have also been tainted by the scandal. Their father Prince Andrew’s ties to the disgraced financier have long been known — including remaining in contact with him for years after he served 18 months in prison on felony prostitution charges, had to register as a sex offender and paid restitution to three dozen victims identified by the FBI.
And in late September, their mother, Sarah Ferguson, was also implicated when a groveling 2011 apology letter she wrote to Epstein after publicly disavowing him was made public, according to The Standard. (She’d previously accepted at least $20K from him to pay off her debts.)
“Beatrice and Eugenie have both tried to keep their heads down in the wake of Andrew’s scandal,” an insider tells Star. “Now that Sarah has been found out to be a friend of Epstein, that’s going to be increasingly difficult.” (The Duchess claimed she sent the note only after Epstein threatened to “sue her for defamation.”)
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The royal family isn’t making it easier. While King Charles III reportedly has a soft spot for the sisters, he’s barred their parents from family occasions such as Christmas at Sandringham Palace. Which leaves Bea and Eugenie in an awkward position — whether to stand by their disgraced parents or try to cozy up to the royals.
“They were ready to step up and take on bigger roles within the royal family if the king so chose,” says the source of that lucrative opportunity. “Now that appears in jeopardy and they feel like pariahs.”