Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie could 'face big test' after Andrew controversy
The spotlight is now on Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, and one royal expert has predicted the biggest challenge they will face in the coming months
Royal expert Richard Palmer has suggested that Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice could face a significant decision this winter regarding their Christmas plans.
This comes in the wake of their father, Prince Andrew's decision to step back from his Duke of York title amid renewed controversy over his ties to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
While initial focus was on Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, attention has now shifted to his daughters and their potential response, reports the Express.
Writing for The i, Mr Palmer suggested that the princesses’ biggest challenge will be deciding whether to spend Christmas with their scandal-ridden father or join the rest of the family at the royal estate in Sandringham.
He wrote: “The big test for Beatrice and Eugenie will come at Christmas. Do they spend it with their parents or join the rest of the family on the royal estate at Sandringham?”
Mr Palmer also noted that this isn’t the first time Eugenie, 35, and Beatrice, 37, have had to deal with issues relating to their father.
He added: “After years of damaging headlines about their parents, they have already had some experience of navigating scandal. When Beatrice and Edoardo were married at Windsor in July 2020, Andrew had to be cut out of the official wedding photos.
“Last year, Beatrice spent Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham, despite Andrew announcing that he would ‘honourably withdraw’ from the event. Eugenie spent the festive period with her in-laws.”
Beyond the internal royal holiday arrangements, there are broader concerns about whether fresh legislation should be introduced to enable the Royal Family to handle royals embroiled in such circumstances more flexibly and efficiently.
Proposed legislation from York Central MP Rachael Maskell would grant the monarch, currently King Charles, the authority to strip titles from members of the Royal Family.
The bill would allow the monarch to revoke titles independently, either following a recommendation from a parliamentary joint committee or upon request from the title holder themselves.
In a statement promoting the proposal, Ms Maskell said: “It is time for Parliament to act so that it can, or the monarch can, remove titles.
“The Duke of York title may no longer be used by its holder, but it has not been removed. My short Bill, the Removal of Titles Bill, will fix this. I hope it can now be supported by Parliament.”