Royal Family Under Fire For Banning Ex-Prince Andrew's Daughter's From Royal Ascot: 'Absolutely Ruthless'

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are reportedly set to miss this year's Royal Ascot as scrutiny surrounding their parents, ex-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, grows.

The decision, said to have come from Buckingham Palace, follows renewed attention on Andrew's past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

However, the royal family has come under scrutiny for the move, with some online accusing the monarchy of punishing the princesses because of their parents' actions.

A new report from the Daily Mail claims that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will not be attending this year's Royal Ascot.

According to an anonymous source cited by the outlet, the development came as an unexpected blow, especially for Beatrice, who felt "completely blindsided" after being informed that she would not be part of this year's event.

Decisions regarding attendance at Royal Ascot, including who participates in the highly visible procession, are understood to fall under the authority of Buckingham Palace.

The renewed attention stems from the long-running controversy surrounding Andrew's ties to Epstein.

In 2019, Andrew stepped back from public royal duties following widespread criticism of a televised BBC interview in which he addressed the relationship. Epstein later died in custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

News of Beatrice and Eugenie's ban from the Royal Ascot has since been met with negative reactions, with several netizens finding it unfair to punish the sisters because of their parents.

On X, a person said, "What have they done to be banned from Ascot? they cant help being born into that family."

Another noted, "I do think this is grossly unfair. The girls have done nothing wrong, so why should they be tarred with the same brush as their father?"

A third person commented, "This Family is absolutely ruthless!!! They aren't a family, they are a business, so anything that affects profit margins has to go & this is the case."

"Why punish the daughters? Fergie might have had knowledge of Andrew's doings, but the children aren't likely complicit," another X user wrote.

A fifth individual stated, "The Ascot should be suspended altogether until the whole Palace is cleared. Everyone, including Charles & William, Camilla & Kate, is tainted."

"Way to be a FAMILY! Their PARENTS are the villains, not them," another person argued. "The Royal family should be standing BY them, helping them, propping them up, not ostracizing or punishing them. What's wrong with these people??"

While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of his honorary military roles and royal patronages in 2022 after a U.S. judge declined to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre. The case was ultimately settled out of court without any admission of liability.

As scrutiny continued, particularly following the publication of Giuffre's memoir, Andrew also ceased using his HRH style. King Charles III later formalized additional changes to his royal status.

Sarah, his ex-wife, has also been referenced in documents connected to Epstein that were released by the U.S. Department of Justice, including emails in which she reportedly sought employment assistance from Epstein during a period of financial difficulty and another message referencing guidance about a children's charity while he was serving a sentence related to prostitution charges involving a minor.

In recent months, however, Sarah has maintained a relatively low public profile. Reports indicate she has been keeping out of the spotlight and may spend time overseas while assessing her next steps.

More recently, Andrew was taken into custody and questioned for several hours over allegations related to misconduct in public office.

Following the shocking release of the Epstein files, it was reported that Beatrice and Eugenie were struggling to come to terms with the revelations linking their parents, Andrew and Sarah, to Epstein, with sources sharing that the sisters felt deeply humiliated by what had emerged.

Insiders claim the York sisters are particularly upset by the familiar tone of their mother's messages with Epstein.

In one such message, Sarah seemingly praised Epstein, branding him a "legend" and the "brother she had always wanted.

The former Duchess of York even joked about wanting Epstein to marry her despite his prior conviction for child sex offences.

According to the Daily Mail, a source close to the sisters said that they were "mortified" by what they had read, especially the extent of their parents' association with Epstein.

The source further noted that princesses were not ready for just how close "their parents were to this appalling man."

Amid the ongoing fallout, a source told People Magazine that Beatrice and Eugenie are choosing to focus on their families and keep their children away from the spotlight.

The sisters, who have largely maintained low-key public roles in recent years, are said to be concentrating on home life rather than public appearances.

According to the insider, their main concern is "protecting their own children from this," especially given the ongoing attention surrounding their parents.

Meanwhile, speculation about their future roles has also grown.

The Daily Express quoted royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who suggested the sisters "will disappear from royal life," and could see reduced visibility, potentially affecting their charitable affiliations.