Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York are barred from Royal Ascot amid efforts to distance the royal family from Prince Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, reports Daily Mail.
Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York have reportedly been barred from attending the prestigious Royal Ascot this year, as the British royal family continues efforts to distance itself from the controversy surrounding their father, Prince Andrew, and his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to multiple reports, the decision reflects growing sensitivity within the monarchy to public perception and reputational risk. Royal Ascot, one of the most high-profile events in the British social calendar, is closely associated with the reigning monarch and senior members of the royal family, making attendance a matter of symbolism and public optics.
Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, were “blindsided” by the decision, according to Daily Mail. The report also mentioned that Prince William and Kate Middleton want to keep their cousins “at arm’s length,” and that the ban is part of a wider decision to exclude Beatrice and Eugenie from future royal public events.
Sources cited in UK and US media suggest that while Beatrice and Eugenie have largely remained out of the spotlight in recent years, concerns persist that their presence could revive attention on Prince Andrew’s past associations with Epstein, which continue to cast a long shadow over the institution. The move is said to be part of a broader strategy by palace officials to minimise controversy during major public-facing royal engagements.
Neither Buckingham Palace nor representatives for the princesses have issued an official statement on the reports.
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