Duchess of York's Epstein ties test Beatrice and Eugenie's royal path

New disclosures about Sarah Ferguson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein have intensified scrutiny of Beatrice and Eugenie York, prompting questions about how the sisters will navigate the fallout and what it may mean for their futures as working royals.

The notes describe a childhood backdrop in which Epstein became a constant presence in Beatrice and Eugenie's life. A Nassau flight log from the financier's private jet lists a meeting with 'Princess Sarah Ferguson and kids' during the family's Easter break from their Ascot prep school. The duchess and her children were later reported to have visited Epstein's private Caribbean island, Little St James, a place some have dubbed Paedo Island because of allegations of sex parties involving underage girls. Beatrice and Eugenie were eight and nine at the time; the relationship would persist as the family moved through royal life.

In January 2011 Ferguson vowed to cut ties with Epstein and said she abhorred paedophilia. Behind the scenes, however, other communications described her as Epstein's steadfast and supreme friend and included apologies for disowning him and for allowing pressure to influence her actions. The notes also suggest Epstein provided money to help clear debts the duchess faced, with figures discussed in the years leading up to 2011 and described in various public accounts as substantial, though precise sums remain disputed.

Newly released transcripts from Ghislaine Maxwell interviews, cited in the notes, suggest Maxwell indicated Ferguson may have played a role in pushing Andrew's introduction to Epstein, a claim that broadens scrutiny of how Epstein was woven into the royal circle.

Epstein's status as a guest at royal events stretched beyond the 1990s; the notes recount his attendance at Balmoral and Sandringham, and at Beatrice's 18th-birthday party at Windsor Castle in July 2006, even as authorities prepared an arrest warrant against him for the alleged sexual assault of a minor two months earlier.

Beatrice and Eugenie, now in their late 30s, have largely distanced themselves from Prince Andrew amid Virginia Giuffre's 2014 allegations and a 2022 out-of-court settlement reported around 12 million pounds. The notes reference Giuffre's death earlier this year, a detail that adds another layer to the family's ongoing public scrutiny.

Royal observers say the sisters are likely to protect their mother while continuing to chart independent paths. They have long balanced duties with private lives, and their decision not to publicly champion their father's case has underscored their desire to keep their own reputations separate from the scandals surrounding their relatives.

Beatrice serves as a patron for Borne, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, and is often cited for her charity work; Eugenie supports the Teenage Cancer Trust, Horatio's Garden and Tate Young Patrons and co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective. In recent weeks both have emphasized causes like human trafficking and children's welfare, showing how they have built identities separate from their father's troubles.

Analysts say the pair's focus on their families and professional roles, including Beatrice's family with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Eugenie's with Jack Brooksbank, suggests they will continue to navigate a restrained public life while maintaining visibility. The King and Queen have reaffirmed support for the girls, and Buckingham Palace has emphasized their ongoing roles within a pared-back monarchy.

The developing disclosures will test the balance between loyalty to their mother and the expectations of royal service, but for Beatrice and Eugenie the trajectory remains defined by their own commitments to family, work and charitable causes.