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Reports have emerged claiming that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will not attend Royal Ascot in June and will also be excluded from the royal carriage procession. According to the reports, the decision is connected to renewed controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and the ongoing scrutiny of their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
For years, many believed the fallout from the Epstein scandal would remain focused mainly on Prince Andrew. Beatrice and Eugenie were often viewed as distant from the controversy, seen more as daughters caught in the consequences of their parents’ actions than active participants in any wrongdoing. However, newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice have changed the public conversation dramatically.
In January 2026, the DOJ released more than three million documents connected to investigations involving Jeffrey Epstein. The release followed the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in 2025, legislation requiring the publication of materials connected to Epstein’s estate and communications. Among the thousands of pages were repeated references to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, along with extensive correspondence involving their mother, Sarah Ferguson.
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Observers were stunned by the frequency with which the sisters’ names appeared. What initially seemed like isolated mentions turned out to be numerous references spread across emails and communications connected to Epstein’s network. Although the documents do not accuse the princesses of criminal activity, the repeated associations have intensified public scrutiny and created serious concerns inside Buckingham Palace.
One revelation that caused particular outrage involved a visit to Epstein’s Palm Beach home in 2009. Emails reportedly showed that Sarah Ferguson arranged for Beatrice and Eugenie to meet Epstein shortly after he had been released from prison following his conviction for soliciting a minor. Epstein had only been out of custody for a matter of days and remained under house arrest at the time.
An email allegedly sent by Ferguson asked Epstein for the address they should visit, stating that she would be arriving with both daughters. At the time, Beatrice was 20 years old and Eugenie was 19. Critics argue that Epstein’s conviction and status as a registered sex offender were already widely known publicly, raising difficult questions about why such a meeting took place at all.
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Royal commentators have noted that the palace has offered little explanation regarding what the sisters knew about Epstein or how aware they were of the controversy surrounding him. Some analysts believe the sisters may themselves have been victims of poor judgment by adults around them, while others argue that they were old enough to understand the seriousness of the situation.
Additional emails added even more discomfort for the royal family. In one message from 2010, Sarah Ferguson made an offhand and crude joke about Eugenie returning from what she described as a “shagging weekend” with her boyfriend, just before Eugenie’s twentieth birthday. The casual tone of the exchange shocked many readers because Ferguson was corresponding with a man already convicted of sexual offenses involving minors.
The documents also revealed that Ferguson invited Epstein to Prince Andrew’s 50th birthday celebration at St. James’s Palace. In the invitation, she specifically mentioned that she, Beatrice, and Eugenie would love for him to attend. Critics viewed this as deeply inappropriate, particularly because Epstein’s criminal history was already well known at the time.
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Some reports also suggested that Beatrice may have been involved in discussions about softening media language surrounding Epstein. If true, such claims would further complicate efforts to portray the sisters as entirely unaware of the scandal. However, many of these details remain disputed, and questions continue about the full context of the communications.
The situation escalated dramatically in February 2026 when Prince Andrew was reportedly arrested and questioned over allegations connected to misconduct during his years as a UK trade envoy. Although no charges were announced and Andrew denied wrongdoing, the arrest marked an unprecedented moment for the modern monarchy. Buckingham Palace had already stripped Andrew of official duties and titles, but the police action intensified the crisis surrounding the York family.
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As attention turned once again to Andrew, the public spotlight also returned to Beatrice and Eugenie. Their public appearances became increasingly rare, and reports suggested that the sisters withdrew from much of their social life. Friends reportedly described them as isolated and deeply distressed by the growing scandal.
Then came claims that the sisters would be excluded from Royal Ascot, one of the monarchy’s most visible public traditions. According to insiders quoted in British tabloids, palace officials considered the event too high-profile and feared that public association with the York sisters could damage the institution further.
Royal Ascot is not simply a sporting occasion. It is one of the most televised and photographed events involving the royal family each year. Being excluded from the carriage procession would send a clear signal that the palace is attempting to distance itself from the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Reports also claimed that senior royals had been advised to avoid being photographed with Beatrice and Eugenie at public engagements throughout the year. Prince William, who is expected to play a leading role in shaping the monarchy’s future, was said to support efforts aimed at protecting the royal institution from further reputational harm.
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Financial questions have also increased pressure on the sisters. Reports emerged that Prince Andrew had been paying a heavily reduced amount for accommodation linked to St. James’s Palace used by his daughters. Critics argued that subsidized royal housing was difficult to justify for non-working royals whose family remained at the center of scandal.
At the same time, debate has intensified over whether Beatrice and Eugenie should continue using royal titles despite not carrying out official duties. Some believe removing or limiting those titles could help the monarchy create distance from the controversy, while others argue the sisters are unfairly suffering because of their parents’ decisions.
Despite growing criticism, some friends and supporters insist the sisters are enduring enormous emotional strain. Both women have families, careers, and children outside royal life, and allies argue they are being judged for circumstances largely beyond their control.
Still, the palace faces an ongoing dilemma. Buckingham Palace may sympathize privately with Beatrice and Eugenie, but the monarchy also believes it must protect its public image above all else. With additional documents still under review and new revelations continuing to emerge, uncertainty remains about what information could surface next.
For now, Beatrice and Eugenie find themselves pulled into a scandal that continues to expand. Whether fairly or unfairly, their names are now permanently tied to one of the most damaging controversies the modern royal family has ever faced.
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