For Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the past is pressing in again — uninvited, unresolved, and deeply personal.
Fresh disclosures connected to Jeffrey Epstein have reopened old wounds surrounding their father, Prince Andrew, leaving the sisters quietly grappling with questions they thought had long been settled.
Now both mothers themselves, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, are navigating the emotional weight of revelations that challenge the version of events they were told — and trusted.
Documents that change the story
The latest strain comes from newly released Epstein-related files made public by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Among them are emails that appear to contradict Prince Andrew’s repeated claim that he cut off contact with Epstein in 2010. One message from 2011, sent shortly after a widely circulated photograph showed Andrew with Virginia Giuffre, suggests the relationship may have continued.
Royal author Robert Jobson says these disclosures have left the sisters feeling misled, not just by circumstances, but by their father himself.
A wider impact on the family
The documents have also raised questions about their mother, Sarah Ferguson.
Emails indicate that Ferguson may have taken Beatrice and Eugenie to visit Epstein shortly after his release from prison in 2009. At the time, the sisters were young adults, and those close to the family say they accepted their parents’ explanations without suspicion.
Jobson has said the revelations are particularly painful because the sisters believed the reassurances they were given — much like other senior members of the royal family did at the time.
Private strain, public restraint
Those who follow the royals closely say the emotional toll has been significant, especially for Eugenie.
Still, Beatrice and Eugenie have remained notably discreet. Royal historian Robert Lacey has pointed to their restraint as telling, noting how carefully they’ve avoided public comment or visible displays of family tension.
That silence, however, shouldn’t be mistaken for distance.
Contact, but no show of unity
Despite speculation, sources close to the family say the sisters have not cut ties with either parent.
Beatrice was recently seen riding horses with Prince Andrew at Windsor, accompanied by her daughter, shortly before Andrew vacated Royal Lodge in early February. Ferguson is also believed to have moved out and is weighing her next steps, possibly remaining near Windsor.
What’s changed is the public posture. Observers say the sisters are unlikely to present a united family front anytime soon, choosing instead to keep interactions private and low-key.
Why this moment matters
The renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s Epstein ties underscores how long the consequences of past associations can linger — especially for family members who didn’t choose them.
For Beatrice and Eugenie, the situation is no longer just about reputation or royal protocol. It’s about trust, parenthood, and reconciling what they believed with what continues to emerge.
As one royal watcher put it, the fallout isn’t theirs to own — but it’s theirs to live with.
