Princess Eugenie Is Avoiding ‘Guilt by Association’ After Andrew Fallout, Says Royal Expert
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has lost a lot in the last few months, but his most brutal loss would definitely be his strained relationship with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. After he was stripped of his titles and Royal Lodge, at least he had his daughters by his side. Though allegedly not for long, as Eugenie is said to have cut all contact with him. While her work for The Anti-Slavery Collective is said to have fueled this decision, a royal commentator now suggests that there’s much more to the matter than what meets the eye. Talking about the alleged falling out in a recent interview, Afua Hagan suggested that the Princess’s move was also about ‘self-preservation,’ trying her best to come out of the shadows of her father’s scandals.
Mountbatten-Windsor is currently packing up to leave his Grade II-listed property, likely before his 66th birthday. His daughters, on the other hand, are slowly creating a careful distance between themselves. While Beatrice is said to have kept some contact with her disgraced father, evident from the fact that, despite his lingering controversies, she still invited the former Duke to her daughter Athena’s christening, Eugenie has taken a much harsher approach. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, as reported by The News, Hagan opined that the unraveling of the former Duke and Princess Eugenie’s relationship didn’t come as a huge surprise for her.
She highlighted, “To me, it's not a surprise. No, I think this is definitely about self-preservation on her part and for herself, for her young family, for her husband, for her interests, for the charities that she's associated with.” At the moment, the Princess doesn’t want 'guilt by association,’ Hagan observed, also noting that her stance may also be further fueled by the fact that her father has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has also not apologized to any of the victims in the Epstein scandal. “He doesn't seem to have any sort of remorse and that doesn't sit well with her at all,” she added. Talking about the York sisters' presence at King Charles' annual Christmas walk, Hagan noted that while Eugenie may support her father privately, for obvious reasons, she doesn't want to be seen publicly with him.
Hagan remarked, “I think at this point it's a very good indication that she has decided, look, you do not have the values that we need to have not only in the royal family but in public life. Therefore, I don't want anything to do with you.” While her careful strategy might distance her from Mountbatten-Windsor, host Susanna Reid argued, it can also create a rift between the sisters. “It's going to affect her relationship with her sister because we understand Princess Beatrice is taking a different approach, not stepping back from her parents,” she opined.
That said, Beatrice and Eugenie’s latest outing suggests otherwise. With Mountbatten-Windsor’s looming scandals, the sisters recently took a relaxed trip to the countryside with some of their close friends, looking bright and smiley as ever.