New earthquake in Windsor. The Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York will not attend this year Royal Ascotone of the most emblematic quotes of the British social calendar (it will be held from June 16 to 20, 2026), and they will not participate in the traditional carriage procession along with the rest of the royal family. The decision, reported by the British Sunday press (‘The Mail on Sunday’), is part – according to sources close to the palace – of a broader strategy to remove them of public events ““for an indefinite period”.
The movement comes at the worst possible moment for the daughters of the prince andrewdetained last February, on his 66th birthday, for 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and in the midst of the reactivation of the scandal over the files linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Although there is no formal accusation against them, Their names appear in declassified documentation and their family ties have once again placed them in the spotlight.
symbolic blow
stay out of Royal Ascot It is not a minor detail. The race, favorite of Elizabeth II and tradition in force since 1825, represents the annual unity photo of the monarchy. Be part of the Royal Box and the parade in carriages implies overnight in Windsor and share a private dinner with senior family members.
According to sources cited in the United Kingdom, the order also includes avoid photographs with them during the rest of the year. In fact, already at Christmas a certain public distance was perceived between the princes of Wales, William and Kateand the daughters of Andrew.
Princesses Eugenia and Beatriz, with their father, the former Prince Andrew. / JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
The weight of the surname York
The background is reputational deterioration of the call York House. The former Duke of York has been carrying the consequences of his relationship with Epstein since 2019. After lose their military titles and patronagesand reach a extrajudicial agreement with Virginia Giuffre –who accused him of abuse when he was a minor – his situation worsened again with new documentary revelations and his recent arrest.
In parallel, the Charity Commission British has confirmed that it is evaluating information about Eugenia’s foundation, The Anti-Slavery Collective, although there is no public indication of irregularities. He simple scrutinyHowever, it adds pressure.
Close sources assure that Beatriz, 37, would have been the most affected by the decision, feeling “completely surprised.” Both try to keep the focus on their families -Eugenia is a mother of two children; Beatriz, of two girls and stepmother of a boy – while the media storm rages.
Montecito, ¿refugio?
In the midst of institutional isolation, an unexpected ally emerges: the prince henry. From Montecito (California)where he resides with Meghan Markle and his two small children, he would have passed on an open invitation to his cousins to use his mansion –valued at about 12.54 million euros – as a refuge if they need it.
According to sources cited by the British press, Enrique would have told them that “he knows what it is to be on the wrong side of the institution”, in a clear allusion to his break with the royal family in 2020. The offer, especially addressed to Beatriz, adds another layer of tension on an already fragile board, that of the British monarchy.
Buckingham, in containment mode
The exclusion of the princesses reflects a strategy of damage control by Buckingham and Kensington. The priority seems clear: protect the image of the institution while doubts persist about the extent of the financial and personal ties of the environment York con Epstein.
The decision raises, however, a delicate dilemma: To what extent should daughters pay for the shadows of their fathers? For now, the palace’s response is pragmatic. In times of reputational crisis, the watchword is distance.
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