The ramifications of Andrew’s arrest are still being felt and will likely continue to be felt by the British royal family for a while. The former prince is still under investigation, and with police raiding his homes and offices, there’s still a lot that could come out. Which is why King Charles and Prince William have tried very hard to distance themselves from him. But what about his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie?
Parliament has opened up the debate on whether Andrew should be removed from the line of succession, but this doesn’t seem to include his daughters. Both are also mentioned in recently released Epstein files, with the emails suggesting the two accompanied their mother, Sarah Ferguson, to meet with Epstein after he was released from prison. Andrew is currently 8th in the line of succession, with Beatrice 9th and Eugenie 12th after Beatrice’s daughters.
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Some reports indicate Andrew is considering renouncing his spot in the line of succession in order to avoid jail time. “He would sacrifice his place in a second if it keeps him out of a cell,” the insider told Rob Shuter. “Jail is the one outcome he cannot control.”
But the princesses, who were just 21 and 19 at the time, are not being looked at in connection with any crimes. And even if their father is indeed removed from the line of succession, it would not affect them in any way. They have also retained their titles, with only their father stripped of the Duke of York title.
According to Dr Craig Prescott, a specialist in UK constitutional law, their place in the line of succession should be safe. He told The Express, “Beatrice and Eugenie are there in the line of succession in their own right. So it would depend on what is agreed, but typically they [MPs] will try and do the least possible when it comes to legislating about the monarchy, so it’s likely just Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will be removed.”
However, royal expert Hilary Fordwich pointed out that the two will still be affected by the fallout of their parents’ decisions. Fordwich told Fox News Digital, “While both daughters were loyal to their parents, they now face the untenable choice of whether salvaging their own futures must prevail, given even their maiden York name is so toxic.”
And at this point, a public separation from their parents might be the only thing they can do. “They will no doubt create even more visible distance from their parents while perhaps still supporting them privately,” Fordwich predicted. “They now have tough decisions to make.”
People had previously reported, “They’re trying to stay away from it. They have young children, and this is their grandfather — their focus is on protecting their own children from this.”
But they are also, reportedly, “putting pieces of the puzzle together in real time and realizing they may have been used.”
“That has to feel like a complete betrayal. They’re heartbroken — but a dad is still your dad, and a mom is still your mom. Love for a parent isn’t a light switch. It’s an incredibly painful and introspective moment for them,” the source added to the outlet.
All experts seem to agree, with royal biographer Russell Myers telling CNN that the family has always been close, but that recent revelations have the sisters “deeply distressed.”
He explained that the two “have a degree of loyalty,” but “it is without question that their relationships with their parents have been left severely strained by their conduct.”