Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, the daughters of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. Photo / Supplied
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, the daughters of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. Photo / Supplied
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are drawing unwanted attention to the royal family and should steer clear of future events, experts say.
The sisters have retained their royal titles amid the scandal surrounding their disgraced father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While there is nosuggestion the princesses were involved in Epstein’s sexual abuse or trafficking, commenters say their presence casts a shadow over the family.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror the sisters could best “support their uncle and cousins” by keeping their distance “for the foreseeable future” given the “damage that has been done”.
Emails leaked to the Mail on Sunday this week revealed Mountbatten-Windsor pushed for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, ninth and 12th in line to the throne, to receive £50,000 ($113,000) each from a billionaire he was assisting while serving as trade envoy.
Messages from June 2011 between the former prince and financier Jonathan Rowland, son of magnate David Rowland, show that Andrew was also reportedly due to receive a payment of £300,000 ($679,000).
The Sun reported MPs are now demanding to know whether the payments were made.
Princess Beatrice, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie in 2007. Photo / Ferdaus Shamim, WireImage)
A source close to the princesses told People the sisters wish to “hold on to their royal status”, despite the scandals, saying the titles are “their identity”.
Though not working royals - Beatrice works in IT while Eugenie manages an art gallery - their “economic prospects depend on remaining within the royal family”, royal biographer Andrew Lownie told People.
“Their jobs in client relations are based on being princesses“, he said.
“We hope that she continues to work to end slavery for good and deliver freedom for everyone,” the organisation said in a statement to TheObserver.
People also reported concerns had been raised with the UK Charity Commission about Eugenie’s own organisation, the Anti-Slavery Collective.
The charity allegedly spent £191,537 ($435,000) on salaries last year, nearly double the £97,206 ($220,700) it spent on charitable activities.
“There’s no denying that questions are now being asked about whether Beatrice and Eugenie ever queried where the family’s money and lavish lifestyle came from,” Bond said.
