‘Bitterly disappointed’ Beatrice and Eugenie are ‘completely blindsided’ by their Royal Ascot ban – and feel they are paying the price of their parents’ sins, friends say

Royal sources have revealed that Princess Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie were ‘bitterly disappointed’ after being told they would not be welcome at Royal Ascot this summer due to their parents’ links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Traditionally, the two brothers would attend the colorful gathering at the famous Berkshire racetrack, one of the highlights of the summer season, and be photographed sitting in the Royal Box with other senior royals.

Officials at Ascot describe the event, particularly the King, Queen and members of the Royal family parading along the course in horse-drawn carriages, as “a timeless crossover between heritage, memory and pride”.

In the past, both Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, have been regulars at Ascot every summer and have been photographed having a fun day out with their royal cousins ​​on several occasions; But this year there will be no shared joy as the sisters feel they are being made to pay for their father’s sins and are being forced to keep a low profile.

A royal source told the Daily Mail: ‘The York girls have been informed they won’t be able to be there this year,’ while another source was even more direct: ‘Ascot is out of the question. ‘The royal family have been told they can’t take photos with the girls for the rest of the year.’

Friends say the sisters are ‘exhausted’ by the bitter snub after they were both named extensively in emails written by convicted sex offender and financier Jeffery Epstein, who committed suicide in a New York prison in 2019.

But there is also shame as their parents (former Duke of York Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife and the girls’ mother Sarah Ferguson) are also linked to Epstein.

Last year, both the girls and their mothers appeared at Royal Ascot; Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson were also there on the opening day.

Traditionally, princesses would attend one of the highlights of the summer, the colorful gathering at the famous Berkshire racetrack, photographed on Day 2 of 2024.

Day 3 – Women’s Day – Beatrice was with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi for the second time.

On day 4, Sarah, Eugenie and her husband James Brooksbank joined. However, on the last day, only Eugenie and her husband were there.

Underlining the history and grandeur of the event, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended every day, while Prince William attended only once and his wife Kate withdrew at the last minute.

According to palace insiders, the Prince and Princess of Wales have already said they will not attend ‘if any members of the York family are at Ascot this year’.

A source close to the York family said: ‘They are deeply disappointed. ‘They feel they are being punished for their parents’ past actions and this is very difficult to accept.’

Excluding the siblings from the affair is part of a broader effort to keep the princesses away from public royal events for the foreseeable future, and both have only been seen briefly since their father’s arrest last month.

Eugenie and Beatrice were spotted in London just days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested for abuse of public office at his new home in Sandringham.

He was held for 11 hours before being released by Thames Valley Police under investigation.

Andrew’s arrest comes after the US Department of Justice released millions of files related to Epstein in January; these included emails showing Andrew passing secret reports to the convicted sex offender while serving as Britain’s trade envoy; Andrew left his position in 2011 after establishing contact with Epstein.

Privately speaking, this effect has been very painful; A Palace insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Beatrice took it the hardest, she was completely caught off guard by everything that was going on.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrived at Ascot in 2017 with the Royal Family despite partying late at the V&A Soirée the night before

‘Every new development in Epstein feels like a new blow. Just when they think things will finally settle down, something else pops up.’

Neither woman has been charged with any crime, and both are trying to focus on their young families and distance themselves from their parents’, especially their father’s, issues that embarrass them.

The girls thought they had escaped being tarred with the ‘Epstein brush’ after being invited to Sandringham by King Charles for the traditional church service last Christmas.

Although Eugenie and Beatrice were smiling with their husbands, Prince William and Kate’s body language towards them was clearly cold, and their cousin Zara’s husband Mike Tindall was the only one who stopped talking to them.

Royal Ascot began in 1825; The first year a chariot-drawn parade was held, it became a particular favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth.

The late Queen’s racing advisor, John Warren, once described how ‘the Queen was incredibly knowledgeable about horse racing’ and read the Racing Post cover to cover.

In 2013, she made history when her mare Estimate won the Gold Cup, becoming the first monarch to achieve this. He had a total of 24 winners throughout his reign.

Speaking of his Gold Cup victory, Mr Warren said: ‘The house came down when he passed. The Queen was really excited. “It was a day to remember.”

The princesses are said to be exhausted by their parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

After the Queen’s death, King III ascended to the throne. Charles and Queen Camilla passed and made their debut as monarchs at the Royal Procession in 2023.

That same year, Desert Hero, a horse bred by the Queen, won the King George V stakes, giving Charles his first Ascot winner.

Mr Warren said: ‘It was quite remarkable to have a winner in King’s first year. The King was healed with tears in his eyes, and the Queen burst into tears.’