Beatrice loses hope of becoming working royal as Epstein scandal deepens

Princess Beatrice, ninth in line to the throne, has reportedly “lost all hope” of becoming a working member of the royal family as the House of York endures a widening scandal tied to her father, Prince Andrew, and her mother, Sarah Ferguson, over their associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Friends say she would have welcomed taking on more royal duties to ease the load on King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales, but the ongoing fallout and new disclosures have cooled those prospects. The King, who is said to be receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer and who sees the Princess of Wales through her own illness, has emphasized a model in which half-in, half-out royals do not assume official duties. That stance has left Beatrice’s path to a larger public role uncertain, according to aides familiar with the situation.

New files released by Congressional Democrats on Friday night have intensified scrutiny surrounding the royals. The material includes phone message logs, flight manifests and financial ledgers connected to Jeffrey Epstein, and the documents name the Duke of York among others, fueling fresh questions about the propriety of some royal associations. The disclosures come in the wake of reporting on Prince Andrew in the biography Entitled by Andrew Lownie, and of emails in which the Duchess of York addressed Epstein after his conviction. Taken together, officials and observers say the materials cast doubt on whether it would be appropriate for Beatrice — who turns 38 this year and remains ninth in line — to assume a more prominent public role. The Mail on Sunday understands that courtiers worry about further damaging revelations that could surface about the duke’s relationship with Epstein.

Beatrice’s supporters, however, insist she would have been eager to contribute more publicly. A friend said Beatrice does want to be a working Royal and would have enjoyed royal engagements because she believes she could perform well and help her uncle in a time of need. Charles, according to those close to him, appreciates her energy and readiness, but the monarch’s advisers have stressed that the long-standing policy against half-in-half-out arrangements remains intact. The concern, described by one associate as a possibility that Andrew could try to “get in via the back door” by exerting influence over Beatrice, has further cooled any talk of a formal appointment.

The tension within the family has been underscored by recent public appearances and private reminders of the strains created by Epstein-related investigations. Beatrice was photographed last Thursday at lunch with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, at Scott’s in London’s Mayfair, a scene that underscored her continued status as a senior royal-in-waiting who is not yet fully incorporated into the working roster. Earlier in the week, reports cited that the Duchess of York had emailed Epstein in 2011 after his conviction, describing him as a “supreme friend” for offering financial help. Eight charities had already removed her as patron or ambassador in the wake of those disclosures. Friends of the Duchess of York have since stressed that Beatrice has preferred to pursue her own charitable work rather than participate in formal royal engagements.

As the Epstein controversy lingers, aides say there has been no change in policy or in the plan for Beatrice’s future role, and no decision has been announced about a formal appointment. Officials emphasize that the royal household must navigate a delicate balance: acknowledging Beatrice’s talents and willingness while safeguarding the monarchy from further reputational risk as new information continues to surface. In the interim, the couple remains engaged in charity and public-facing duties on a more limited basis, consistent with the broader approach to royal duties during a period of ongoing scrutiny and personal health challenges among senior royals.