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Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have reportedly been barred from attending this year's Royal Ascot as scrutiny surrounding their parents' links to Jeffrey Epstein intensifies.
According to reports, the sisters, daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, were informed they would not be welcome at the prestigious June racing event. They are also said to be excluded from the traditional royal procession, a centerpiece of the annual gathering.
A source cited in coverage of the decision claimed the princesses were "blindsided," with Beatrice, 37, believed to be taking the news particularly hard. Representatives for the sisters and Buckingham Palace have not publicly commented.
The development comes just weeks after Andrew's arrest on Feb. 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Authorities reportedly questioned the 66-year-old royal for several hours before releasing him. If formally charged and convicted, he could face a significant prison sentence.
Renewed focus on Andrew's past association with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, has placed the York family back under an uncomfortable spotlight. The fallout has reportedly widened beyond the duke himself.
Ferguson, also 66, has been linked in previously released U.S. Justice Department documents connected to Epstein. While there is no evidence she committed criminal wrongdoing, legal sources suggest she could be questioned as a potential witness should she return to the United Kingdom. She is currently believed to be in Switzerland, where reports claim she has checked into a private wellness clinic amid the mounting pressure.
Meanwhile, Beatrice and Eugenie are said to be focusing on their young families and attempting to maintain a low profile. Eugenie was recently spotted abroad with her husband and children shortly before her father's arrest became public.
Royal Ascot has long been a fixture on the royal calendar, making the sisters' reported absence particularly notable. Insiders suggest the move may signal a broader effort to distance working members of the royal family from the ongoing controversy.
Neither the palace nor event organizers have confirmed the reported ban.
