Princess Eugenie is celebrating her 36th birthday today – but one royal expert predicts that she may not feel like celebrating given the turmoil engulfing the York family
It may be Princess Eugenie’s birthday today – but her happy day has come at a time of intense pressure for the York family. The mum-of-two along with her older sister Princess Beatrice are understood to be angered over Buckingham Palace’s unwillingness to back them publicly, after details emerged linking them to the late convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein.
It emerged earlier this year from the so-called Epstein Files, part of the three million documents released by the US state department in January, that the sisters had accompanied their mother Sarah Ferguson to the United States to meet Epstein. Just days earlier, he had been released from prison in 2009 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. The princesses were 19 and 20 years old at the time. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by either Beatrice or Eugenie.
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Last month, their father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and has since holed himself up in his temporary residence of Wood Farm in the Sandringham estate.
Meanwhile their mother, who has not been seen in public for six months, is now facing calls to testify in the United States about what she knew about Epstein. And amid all of the turmoil, royal expert Jennie Bond believes Eugenie may well not feel like celebrating as she turns 36 today.
The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror: “Both Eugenie and Beatrice must be feeling the heat of the headlines that are now turning on them. And so I doubt whether this birthday will be one she will particularly feel like celebrating in a big way.
“Both princesses seem to have decided that keeping a low profile for now is the best course of action, and I suspect that is how Eugenie will spend her birthday: out of public view and certainly not openly with either of her parents.”
While the King invited both Beatrice and Eugenie to his Sandringham estate at Christmas, to spend the festive period with the extended royal family, their invitation and acceptance was seen as a bold statement of support from the King who had sympathy for their plight. However, royal sources suggest the situation has now changed drastically.
The source added: “The sisters are extremely unhappy. They feel they have been left out in the cold. They aren’t being supported by Buckingham Palace and are certainly concerned they will lose their titles and privileges as a result of their parents’ conduct.”
The sisters, who are not full-time working royals, still maintain homes on royal estates as part of historic deals arranged by their father. Beatrice has an apartment in St James’s Palace and Eugenie has Ivy Cottage, a three-bedroom property at Kensington Palace.
But royal expert Jennie adds it might be easier all around if the two princesses excuse themselves from Royal Family events in the future – and consider the use of their titles.
She explained: “I’m sure the sisters are a great support to one another. Personally, I think they would be wise to discuss whether they should give up their titles, step down from their charities and any public work and just get on with their lives as happily married women with children to look after and careers to pursue. That might just be easier all round.”
Recent reports suggested the King would not invite them from Royal Ascot in June, where the royals typically gather en masse during the five day festival. The Mirror understands that no decision on Beatrice or Eugenie’s attendance has been made, however, if they were to attend they would not ride in the carriage procession.
