The once-strong bonds among the late Queen Elizabeth’s oldest grandchildren—Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, and Zara Tindall—have deteriorated significantly, reaching a point many royal insiders believe is beyond repair. This fracturing of family ties is largely attributed to the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the damaging revelations surrounding Prince Andrew, the former Duke of York. The scrutiny has increasingly turned to Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, whose names have surfaced in the infamous Epstein files, prompting serious questions about their awareness of their parents' dealings with the paedophile financier and the origins of their notably lavish younger years.

Prince William, 43, keenly aware of his position as heir to the throne, is reportedly taking a firm stance against his cousins, Beatrice and Eugenie. Royal insiders indicate a substantial shift in William’s position, suggesting he now believes the sisters should be kept “at arm’s length.” His irritation stems partly from their frequent involvement in projects in the Middle East, which he fears could undermine relations with the UK royals, especially given his own long-term efforts to foster ties between London and Riyadh. William is also deeply concerned about their perceived lack of “discretion,” fearing it might “backfire on the monarchy.” For example, Beatrice’s decision to host a tea party for wealthy women business leaders in Saudi Arabia last November, soon after her father became a commoner, reportedly angered William, who viewed it as a stark display of self-awareness. He is also apprehensive that any public sympathy for the princesses could rapidly disappear if past tales of their “hedonistic youth” are re-examined. William's frustration was exacerbated when they reportedly declined his suggestion for an “ethics” check on their personal investments, a move he believed would demonstrate compliance and safeguard them from any perceived impropriety linked to Andrew’s and Sarah Ferguson’s financial connections to Epstein. Palace sources are reportedly aware that Andrew and his business associates acted as financial advisers to Beatrice and Eugenie, leading to concerns about potentially undisclosed financial dealings.

The strain in relations between William and the York sisters has been profoundly influenced by Catherine, Princess of Wales, 44. Kate is said to have never been close to Beatrice and Eugenie, with insiders claiming they, along with Prince Andrew, made her initial entry into the Royal Family “very uncomfortable.” They were reportedly influenced by their father into believing William was marrying “below his status” and that his relationship with Kate would eventually “fizzle out.” An early sign of discord emerged in 2008 when Beatrice and Eugenie allegedly snubbed Kate’s younger sister, Pippa Middleton, at a London fashion show by refusing to make space for her in the front row—an incident that reportedly left a lasting impression. Kate allegedly retaliated by omitting Beatrice from the initial guest list for an Eighties-themed charity roller disco; when an invitation was eventually sent, it conspicuously lacked the dress code, reportedly humiliating Beatrice amidst a crowd of neon outfits, with some accounts suggesting she was brought to tears. Further tension arose from Sarah Ferguson's exclusion from William and Kate's 2011 wedding due to a “cash for access scandal,” where she was filmed offering access to Andrew for a substantial sum. Both Kate and William reportedly find it difficult to accept that Andrew, Sarah, and even Beatrice and Eugenie, saw nothing amiss in Epstein’s world, especially considering their mother reportedly took the then 19 and 20-year-old princesses to visit the convicted paedophile in New York in 2009, shortly after his release from prison. Since the full extent of Andrew’s murky dealings with Epstein became clear, Kate has maintained a significant distance from the entire York family. This year, no Christmas presents were exchanged between the Wales and York children, and neither couple has been asked to be godparents for each other’s children.

Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, 44, once shared a close bond with the York sisters, particularly Eugenie, who even visited them in California, as depicted in the 2022 Netflix documentary. However, this closeness has reportedly “fallen apart” in recent years, partly due to Harry’s increasingly strained relationship with his father and brother. While Beatrice and Eugenie initially attempted to keep communication lines open to foster peace within the wider family, they eventually “gave up the project.” Meghan, in particular, was reportedly “repulsed” by Prince Andrew and grew wary of Beatrice’s closeness to him and her readiness to “sing the praises of her father,” which further contributed to Harry’s reduced contact with the sisters. Although Harry reportedly contacted them by email after their father was stripped of his royal title last October, these attempts yielded nothing substantial due to the ongoing revelations, with Meghan eager to keep her “brand clear of any link.”

In stark contrast to William and Kate’s growing distance and Harry’s estrangement, King Charles III, 75, despite Queen Camilla’s advice to “keep his distance,” remains “fiercely loyal and protective of the girls,” offering them “as much support as possible.” The King reportedly approves of how Beatrice and Eugenie manage their family life and royal duties alongside their charitable work, and it is thanks to him that they have retained their HRH titles. Meanwhile, their cousin Zara Tindall, 44, and her husband Mike Tindall, 47, have offered crucial comfort and support. Zara continues to welcome both sisters and their children at her home on the Gatcombe Park estate, ensuring the younger generation remains connected to the family and does not feel ostracised. Peter Phillips, 48, also residing at Gatcombe, is believed to maintain close ties with the York sisters. These informal gatherings, occasionally attended by the King, provide the sisters with opportunities to connect with other family members, including Princess Anne.

The shadow of the Epstein scandal deepened further with Prince Andrew’s recent arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This relates to allegations of him passing sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. This unprecedented event saw Andrew, 66, detained during an early morning raid, marking him as the first senior royal arrested in modern times. King Charles issued an official statement confirming his “wholehearted support and co-operation” with the investigation, a stance reportedly backed by William and Kate. Given the intense pressures and continuous revelations, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams advises that Beatrice and Eugenie should maintain an “extremely low profile,” avoiding public royal events such as the traditional Easter Sunday service and upcoming summer appearances. He emphasizes that “silence, sometimes, really is best.”