Princesses Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have been advised to consider stepping back from using their royal titles as scrutiny surrounding their father, Prince Andrew, continues to intensify.
Although neither sister is a working member of the Royal Family, they still retain their princess and HRH titles and enjoy certain privileges linked to their royal status. Reports have revealed that both women are able to rent homes within prestigious royal palaces — a privilege that has sparked renewed debate about whether they should continue benefiting from royal connections.
The situation contrasts sharply with their father’s fall from grace. Prince Andrew, whose full name is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, lost his royal titles after being stripped of them by the King following his involvement in the scandal surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The controversy has intensified in recent weeks after Andrew was reportedly arrested on his 66th birthday, prompting fresh calls from critics for his daughters to renounce their titles and even be removed from the line of succession. While Beatrice and Eugenie were recently named in the so-called Epstein files alongside their parents, their inclusion does not indicate any wrongdoing. Still, questions remain over whether they were aware of Andrew and their mother Sarah Ferguson having dealings with Epstein.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond believes the moment may have arrived for the sisters to rethink how publicly they use their royal status. She explained that while neither Beatrice nor Eugenie has openly flaunted their titles, the prestige of being called a princess inevitably opens doors in certain circles.
Jennie said that a title like that naturally creates connections and opportunities, which both women have likely benefited from throughout their professional lives. She added that there is nothing inherently wrong with this, but given the damage done to the York name, the sisters might prefer to quietly step away from using their titles in their private and professional lives.
According to the royal expert, there would be no need for a dramatic public renunciation. Instead, she suggested the sisters could simply distance themselves from the York association and adopt their married names in everyday life.
Despite the pressure, there are currently no indications that the King intends to strip the sisters of their titles. When Prince Andrew lost his royal honours last October, his daughters remained unaffected and continued to hold the titles of princess.
The sisters also still maintain access to properties within royal palaces, thanks to an arrangement previously negotiated by their father. While both have main homes elsewhere, Princess Beatrice reportedly keeps an apartment in St James’s Palace, while Princess Eugenie uses Ivy Cottage — a three-bedroom property within Kensington Palace — as a London base.
The arrangement reportedly requires them to pay an undisclosed amount in rent. A source told The Times that the deal had originally been set up by their father because he wanted his daughters to maintain a foothold within the royal palaces.
Some commentators have even suggested that the sisters should avoid major royal gatherings such as Easter celebrations and the prestigious Royal Ascot while the controversy surrounding their family continues.
However, Jennie Bond believes the King is unlikely to take such drastic action unless the sisters themselves were implicated in wrongdoing. She stressed that there is currently no evidence of them abusing their royal status.
For now, she believes the wisest course of action may simply be discretion. As she put it, this is clearly a difficult time for both women, and it might be best for them to keep their heads down and focus on their work and family lives.
