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Kate Middleton is ‘Cautious’ Around Beatrice and Eugenie After Recent Scandals: Report

(L) Kate attends the Duchess of Kent's funeral; (Inset) Andrew and Sarah attend the Easter Service; (R) Beatrice and Eugenie at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Cover Image Source: Getty Images| (L) Max Mumby; (Inset) Karwai Tang; (R) Samir Hussein
(L) Kate attends the Duchess of Kent's funeral; (Inset) Andrew and Sarah attend the Easter Service; (R) Beatrice and Eugenie at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Cover Image Source: Getty Images| (L) Max Mumby; (Inset) Karwai Tang; (R) Samir Hussein
Feb. 16 2026, Published 06:48 AM. ET
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After the latest revelations in the Epstein files, people questioned whether Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were truly oblivious to their parents' controversial ties to the disgraced financier. A new email, showing Sarah Ferguson mentioning Beatrice's advice to repair her relationship with Epstein, only intensified that scrutiny. According to sources, Kate Middleton, too, is said to be treading on eggshells around the Princesses, given Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ferguson's misgivings and their close bond with the Sussexes.

Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on April 16, 2017 in Windsor, England. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)
Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, and Kate Middleton attend the Easter Sunday church service. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

According to the Daily Mail, due to Middleton's 'frosty' relationship with them, Prince William is reportedly evaluating Beatrice and Eugenie's future in the Firm. Commenting on their icy dynamic, a source spilled, "William and Kate don't appear to be close to either of the sisters. They haven't got that much in common." They also alleged that Eugenie's close bond with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they stepped down has kept Middleton, in particular, on her guard. "William has made a point of inviting Beatrice and Eugenie, and other cousins, to help him host a Buckingham Palace garden party once a year. But there's no sign of him ever wanting his cousins to be taxpayer-funded working royals," chimed in an insider.

Image Source: Getty Images | Samir Hussein/WireImage
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Prince William attend Easter service at St George's Chapel. (Image Source: Getty Images | Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Moreover, astonishing emails from the latest tranche showed Beatrice's role in facilitating her father's disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, her alleged fondness for Epstein, and her advice to Ferguson on mending ties with the disgraced financier. All these have majorly contributed to the Princess of Wales being wary of the sisters. Asserting the same, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said, "Andrew's alibi on Newsnight of celebrating Beatrice's 13th birthday at the now infamous Pizza Express in Woking involved her in the Newsnight interview. Reports have indicated that she favored it." He continued, "Catherine will have noted the problems the sisters face, no doubt with some sympathy, but will undoubtedly also be wary, given the sensitivity of their current situation."

Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie attend day 4 of Royal Ascot in 2015. (Image Source: Getty Images| Max Mumby/Indigo)
Sarah Ferguson, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie attend day 4 of Royal Ascot. (Image Source: Getty Images| Max Mumby/Indigo)

Although Fitzwilliam pointed out that reports may vary about Eugenie's close bond with the Sussexes, Middleton is, regardless, very 'cautious' in her relations with them. He added, "The sisters face an enormous challenge, being happily married, well adjusted, and with careers, but clearly wanting to do more charity work as Princesses. However, their parents are engulfed in a very serious crisis which may prove absolutely cataclysmic." As for the former Duke and Duchess of York, they are currently banished from royal life and are living in exile, unlike their daughters, who continue to keep their titles. 

Regardless of Beatrice and Eugenie's true state of awareness, they were said to be 'aghast' after the release of the latest Epstein documents. Weighing in, a source previously told the Daily Mail, "The Yorks are just about holding it together as a family, but this has put new strains on their relationships. They [Beatrice and Eugenie] are aghast at what they have read. They are mortified by the emails their mother has sent to Epstein."

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