Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are putting some distance between themselves and their parents as they fight to keep their standing in the Royal Family.
The York sisters have been embroiled in scrutiny over the past few months after their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, were mentioned multiple times in the Department of Justice’s Epstein files.
Furthermore, the former prince’s links to the late convicted peadophile Jeffrey Epstein saw him stripped of his royal titles, investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public office and kicked out of his longtime Royal Lodge home.
He is currently taking legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest in relation to the Epstein files earlier this year, asking a judge to examine the lawfulness of the search warrants that allowed officers to raid his current home, Marsh Farm, in February.
Now, Beatrice, 38, and Eugenie, 36, have decided to not only create space between themselves and their disgraced parents, but are also keep a distance from each other.
“They love each other dearly, of course, but they’ve realised that always being seen as a package deal hasn’t necessarily helped them so they’re going their separate ways,” an insider told Woman’s Day.
“There’s a lot at stake right now, they’re both fighting to hang on to their place within the monarchy and that pressure has definitely got them feeling competitive.”
While the sisters’ place in the Firm currently appears to be stable, the insider claims they are concerned whether that will be the case when their cousin, Prince William, ascends the throne.
“They’re both so worried about what happens when William takes over. They don’t want to suddenly be shut out of events like Royal Ascot, or Christmas at Sandringham. Or, worst of all, lose their homes.”
While Beatrice currently lives in the Cotswolds with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their kids, she currently keeps a London base in an apartment at St James’s Palace.
Meanwhile, Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank currently split their time between Portugal and the UK, boasting a three-bedroom home on the grounds of Kensington Palace called Ivy Cottage.
The insider claims that Beatrice and Eugenie are doing “a lot of schmoozing” to line up opportunities and keep their heads above the water should disaster strike, while also making the most of their husbands’ connections.
“You’d think they’d want to join forces in this and help each other but that is not the route they’re taking, it’s every woman for herself,” the source says.
The former Duke and Duchess of York, both 66, have been keeping a low profile after being mentioned a number of times in the Epstein files.
Fergie called Epstein a “supreme friend” in emails released by the Department of Justice, while also apologising to the convicted sex offender for publicly condemning him.
Meanwhile, documents showed Epstein offering to introduce “The Duke” to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and Andrew inviting the financier to Buckingham Palace for dinner.
Being mentioned in the Epstein files doesn’t indicate any wrongdoing.