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Topics: Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, Royal Family, Jeffrey Epstein, UK News
Madison Burgess
Topics: Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, Royal Family, Jeffrey Epstein, UK News
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have allegedly been told they can't join the rest of their family at Royal Ascot this year.
According to The Mail on Sunday, which published the claims, sources say the royal sisters won't be taking their usual seats in the Royal Box at the Berkshire horse-racing event in June, and they won't be allowed to join the senior royals for the Royal Procession either.
The reported move has come after their father, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February.
The former Prince and Duke of York's arrest followed the latest release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice, which further shed light on Andrew's ties to the convicted paedophile.
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Andrew, who has continuously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, was taken into custody as police searched his addresses, before being released eleven hours later.
Although no further details have been released since the arrest, Thames Valley Police previously said it was reviewing claims that Andrew allegedly shared sensitive information with the late criminal financier while he was serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
Andrew became the first senior member of the Royal Family in modern history to have been arrested, which raised questions over where this left his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, who still have their royal titles.
Reports have emerged that changes have started to set in, with the sisters allegedly giving Ascot a miss, after being regular attendees every summer for years.
For those unfamiliar, Ascot is the UK's most prestigious five-day horse racing event, held annually in June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.
It's also a huge day for the royals, who arrive along the track in horse-drawn landaus before spending the day watching the races from the Royal Enclosure.
Royal Ascot 2026 will take place from Tuesday, 16 June to Saturday, 20 June.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Beatrice and Eugenie have been left 'completely blindsided' by the decision, and allegedly, it's part of a wider decision to exclude the sisters from all public-facing events for the foreseeable future.
A source told the publication: "I've spoken to my friend who works at Ascot and they said the girls have been told they can't be there this year.
"Beatrice has taken it the hardest. She's been completely blindsided by all of this."
While a second source added: "Ascot would be out of the question because the royals have been told they can't have pictures with the girls for the rest of the year."
Allegedly, the move follows meetings at the palace about the roles Beatrice and Eugenie should play amid the ongoing Epstein scandal involving their parents.
Both their mum and dad appear in the files in numerous email exchanges and documents. It's important to note, though, that being named in the files does not suggest wrongdoing.
Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie have all been lying low since the events of Andrew's arrest unfolded.
At the time, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Express: “Beatrice and Eugenie will disappear from royal life. They will probably lose their coveted charitable organisations. They are unlikely to be prominent in the future and would be better off quiet.”
Tyla has contacted a representative for Buckingham Palace and Royal Ascot for comment.