Have Beatrice & Eugenie Picked a Side? Sisters 'Holding On to Their Royal Status,' Says Pal

A York family friend claims Beatrice and Eugenie are holding tight to their titles, wary of suffering the same fate as their parents.

After the release of the first batch of Epstein files, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson bore the brunt of the fallout over their controversial ties to the disgraced financier. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have so far escaped the royal pariah status, proudly joining the royal family for Christmas. But that reprieve did not last long. After new emails suggested their involvement in helping their parents save face, a family friend claims the sisters are now holding tight to their royal status, wary of being served the same fate as their parents.

Speaking to PEOPLE, the source revealed that the sisters' alleged fear grew after their father was arrested for suspicion of misconduct in public office. Speaking of their uncertain futures, they said, "They [Beatrice and Eugenie] want to hold on to their royal status. It's their identity."

Interestingly, the former Duke of York had allegedly pushed for his daughters to be styled as 'Her Royal Highness' and to be called princesses at birth. Royal author Andrew Lownie spilled, "She's [Eugenie] a granddaughter of the Queen — a princess of the blood. He [Andrew] believed she should get everything."

Lownie believes that although Beatrice and Eugenie pursued professional careers outside the Firm, their royal status inevitably shaped the opportunities presented to them. He opined, "Their economic prospects depended on remaining within the royal family. Their jobs in client relations are based on being princesses."

While the sisters chose to celebrate Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, instead of their parents, that loyalty may have backfired. Lownie argued, "They're [Beatrice and Eugenie] caught between a rock and a hard place over loyalty to their parents and their future." Royal expert Ingrid Seward has also given her two cents on the alleged dilemma. Citing a Daily Mail report that claimed the Princesses are banned from attending Royal Ascot for their involvement in covering up their parents' scandals, she stressed, "They [Beatrice and Eugenie] are tarnished by this. It has affected their lives a great deal." Chiming in, Lownie revealed Prince William's alleged strict stance on the York family. He said, "William wants it [Andrew scandal] all cleaned out before he gets [on the throne]. He wants it dealt with now."

For now, the York sisters remain princesses, owing to King Charles's alleged fondness for them. However, the Prince of Wales may not be as soft-hearted as his father; it was he who is said to have barred them from attending Royal Ascot. According to a source who spoke to Vanity Fair, discussions about Beatrice and Eugenie's future roles were in the pipeline since November, even before Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. They said, "It was something that was being looked at before recent events, but despite what has happened with Andrew, it's not off the cards. Whatever people might think of Andrew, the girls are kind, hardworking, and want to help if they can."