The 'emotional toll' Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal may be having on Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie
The York sisters are navigating a very complex dilemma
A number of headlines have been swirling recently regarding Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie amid the ongoing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal.
As their father Andrew and their mother Sarah Ferguson have been named within the latest tranche of Epstein files, many royal observers are wondering what Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s next move will be.
Are they supporting their parents? Have they cut them off? Are the royal family in their corner? All the while, the two sisters may be navigating some very complex feelings, according to an expert psychologist.
Elsewhere, rumours are also bubbling over Princess Eugenie and her cousin Prince William’s dynamic. Keep reading to dive into all the details…
The alleged toll Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal is having on Princesses Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Psychologist, Author and Broadcaster Professor Linda Papadopoulos has chimed in on the various emotions the sisters are likely enduring as they are embroiled in the ongoing Epstein files saga.
In a conversation with Woman&Home, Professor Linda Papadopoulos explained how our family shapes us and therefore, how The Firm may have impacted Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and what this might mean amid the current drama.
How Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie may choose to move forward
“Family narratives are critical and can be either empowering or limiting. If a family becomes associated with scandal or dysfunction, an individual may grow up carrying a storyline they didn’t write. In adulthood, those early imprints can persist unless consciously reworked. The task of adulthood is not to erase family history, but to develop a personal identity that sits alongside it rather than being consumed by it,” Professor Papadopoulos detailed.
She also gave insight into what the sisters could be going through if they are indeed taking a step away from their parents.
She explained: “Stepping away from family, even when behaviour is harmful, can trigger deep guilt because it feels like a threat to our roots. There is also the cultural script that family is unconditional and permanent. For many people, distancing themselves feels like betraying not just a person, but their own history. That’s why estrangement is rarely clean or simple; it involves grief, identity loss and social consequences.”
Psychologist’s advice to Beatrice and Eugenie amid Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal
Professor Papadopoulos also explained how Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie may choose to move forward, advising how they can try to ensure their family history does not dictate their future.
She said: “The key here is differentiation, so learning to emotionally separate without necessarily cutting off. That means being clear about what is yours and what is not. You cannot control another person’s behaviour, but you can control your values, conduct and boundaries. Practically, this involves consistent messaging ‘I am not responsible for X’, surrounding yourself with relationships that know you as an individual, and resisting the urge to over-defend or over-explain. When identity is internally anchored rather than externally defined, association loses some of its power.”
Meanwhile, more questions are cropping up about why Princess Eugenie has reportedly distanced herself from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Although this narrative has since been challenged, with other reports explaining that Eugenie has in fact been there for the disgraced former prince, the idea that Eugenie cut off Andrew to please Prince William has been thrown around.
Princess Eugenie and Prince William’s alleged dynamic
Daily Mail’s Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths has shared her thoughts and she thinks Eugenie potentially attempting to appease Prince William is a “fool’s errand”.
Griffiths has mused that William might not truly be on Princess Eugenie’s side.
She penned in the Mail’s Palace Confidential newsletter: “I think Eugenie cut her father out for her own reasons. Not to please Prince William. She was horrified on a personal level because she co-founded The Anti Slavery Collective, a charity which fights human trafficking. Pleasing William is a fool’s errand right now. The future king is in no mood to bring his cousins into the fold. No matter how much loyalty they display to the crown.”
She concluded: “Now rumour has it that William plans to ‘streamline’ the Yorks out of the Royal Family all together when he is King.”
Oh dear…
The latest in the Epstein files
Last Friday, three million files relating to late convicted sex offender Epstein and his crimes were released by the US Department of Justice.
Within the files, images appearing to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the ground were released.
In two of the images, he is seen touching the person, who is fully clothed, on her stomach. Another image shows him staring at the camera.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Sarah Ferguson was also allegedly named in the latest batch of files, with grovelling emails sent to Epstein, said to be from Fergie, implying their friendship continued, despite his convictions.
No context has been supplied for the images or emails. Confirmation that the images are of Andrew and the emails are from Sarah Ferguson is yet to be shared. It’s also unclear when and where the images were taken.
Representative for the two parties have failed to share any further context.
Being named or pictured among the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Royal Insider has contacted Kensington Palace and representatives for Beatrice and Eugenie for comment.
Read more: Prince William to represent King Charles at historic event for Archbishop of Canterbury
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