Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are reportedly being kept away from this year’s Royal Ascot—and from the royal carriage procession—because of ongoing fallout over their parents’ ties to Jeffrey Epstein, not because of any wrongdoing by the sisters themselves.
Why they are being excluded
- A report in the Daily Mail, echoed by outlets like PEOPLE and others, says the York sisters “have been told they can’t be there this year,” with the decision framed as an effort by the royal family to distance itself from the scandal surrounding their father, Prince Andrew, and their mother, Sarah Ferguson, and their connections to Epstein.
- The unnamed insider quoted in the coverage says Beatrice, 37, has taken the decision hardest and feels “completely blindsided,” while Eugenie, 35, is also affected but less publicly vocal.
Background on Andrew and Ferguson’s Epstein ties
- Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein made him a focal point of scandal, especially after Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit over alleged sexual abuse at age 17; he eventually settled out of court and lost military titles, patronages, and then his HRH status from King Charles.
- In the DOJ‑released Epstein files, Sarah Ferguson appears in multiple emails, including one asking Epstein if she could work as his house assistant because she “desperately needed money,” and another seeking advice on children’s charities while he was jailed for soliciting a minor.
Wider royal family positioning
- This year, there is no indication that Beatrice or Eugenie have been formally punished; instead, the move is being read as part of a broader effort to keep the “House of York” controversy from the foreground of a high‑profile event like Royal Ascot.
- Both sisters have tried to stay out of the spotlight, with insiders saying they are focused on protecting their young children (including Eugenie’s sons August and Ernest, and Beatrice’s daughters Sienna and Athena) from the continuing media and legal fallout.
So far, Buckingham Palace and Royal Ascot have not officially confirmed the “ban,” leaving the report as a leak from within the palace and Ascot circles rather than a formal statement.
