When an emotional summit took place at the Royal Lodge to discuss Prince Andrew’s future after his bombshell announcement, his youngest daughter was noticeably absent for one major reason
Just days after Prince Andrew renounced his royal titles in a shocking statement, a family summit was reportedly held at Royal Lodge to discuss the changes and assess what the family’s future looked like in the face of such scandal.
Andrew announced that he would be relinquishing his titles and honours given to him by his late mother Queen Elizabeth, as the accusations against him – which he has long denied – continue to “distract” from the work of the royal family. In the days after the announcement, Andrew and Fergie’s eldest daughter Beatrice was spotted at the Royal Lodge, as an informal family meeting is said to have taken place.
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While Beatrice was there to support her parents during the huge change, her younger sister Princess Eugenie was reportedly noticeably absent. Beatrice was snapped arriving solo to the Windsor residence, which Andrew and Fergie have resided in since 2008.
A royal source told the Daily Mail of the meeting: “The Royal Lodge ‘summit’ wasn’t a happy occasion and the family, once a strong unit, is fractured.”
While Beatrice did travel to Windsor in the wake of the shocking announcement, a royal source said that she has been left “devastated” over the continued allegations against her parents.
The source claimed: “She was on the phone saying she couldn’t bring herself to look at the Sunday papers. She looked absolutely devastated.”
Royal sources went on to say that neither Princess Beatrice nor Princess Eugenie had any prior knowledge of their father’s intention to give up his royal honours before the public statement emerged, with the princesses being completely blindsided by the decision.
The lack of advance notice about such a significant decision represented a major break from the previously tight-knit family’s usual communication patterns, as neither of the princesses are thought to have been given any chance to prepare for the ramifications of their father’s dramatic announcement. Sources suggest that Prince Andrew was “bounced into agreeing a statement” without first discussing it with his daughters.
While Beatrice and Eugenie have not had any allegations against them, one royal expert has shared her concern that they have been caught up in Fergie’s Epstein scandal with the revelation that, aged just 19 and 20, the young princesses went with their mother to the US to visit paedophile billionaire Epstein following his release from prison in 2009.
Ingrid Seward told the Daily Mail that while the princesses are continuing to fly under the radar and make names for themselves, they should consider going one step further and rescind their princess titles.
The royal expert said: “Giving up their titles would give them freedom from their parents, stop them being tarred with the same brush and be a clear sign that they want to make their own way in the world. I think people would hugely respect them for it and, I think, ultimately, they would be happier.”