Why Princess Eugenie Steered Clear of the York Family Summit Amid Prince Andrew Drama
Prince Andrew’s scandal forced an emergency meeting behind Windsor’s gates. But while Princess Beatrice showed up in support, Eugenie’s absence raised questions.
Prince Andrew's surrendering of his royal titles led to a private family meeting at Royal Lodge to address what's next for the Yorks. While Princess Beatrice was seen driving into the estate to support her parents, her younger sister Princess Eugenie's absence raised several questions.
Those close to the family say Eugenie’s absence wasn’t coincidental. “The Royal Lodge ‘summit’ wasn’t a happy occasion, and the family, once a strong unit, is fractured,” a source told the Daily Mail.
Andrew’s statement had already shaken the family. Announcing that he would relinquish his honors granted by the late Queen Elizabeth, the Duke said the ongoing allegations against him (which he continues to deny) had become a 'distraction' from the monarchy’s work. The move blindsided many, including his daughters. Royal insiders say Beatrice and Eugenie had no prior warning and were left 'reeling' when the news broke publicly. “She was on the phone, saying she couldn’t bring herself to look at the Sunday papers. She looked absolutely devastated,” a source said of Beatrice.
While Beatrice did attend the crisis talks with her parents, she emerged from the property looking notably distressed. The gathering at Windsor was said to be especially upsetting for Sarah Ferguson, who, according to an insider, suffered a 'meltdown' at the thought of surrendering her Duchess title. Those present claimed that she was "wailing that he shouldn’t do it," as the reality sank in that she might soon lose the designation she had proudly held since 1986, even when she divorced Andrew in 1996.
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who has watched the York sisters grow up through his lens for decades, recently came to their defense in The Sun. Having seen the toll that scandal has taken on their family, Edwards argued that Beatrice and Eugenie deserve to be seen for who they are, not for the mistakes of those who raised them.
“While their parents may have been brought down by scandal, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie can hold their heads high,” he wrote. “The girls are wonderful assets to the royal family, and neither of them has ever put a foot wrong.” He described them as approachable and genuine, saying that while their father has often been criticized for arrogance, “there’s not a sniff of pomposity about” his daughters.
In fact, Edwards believes their understated charm and sense of duty make them valuable to the monarchy at a time when King Charles is scaling back his public schedule. He suggested that the King could bring them into a more active royal role, noting, “With their sense of duty and honor, they would be only too pleased to do it.”
