Beatrice has been way more open than her sister in displaying her assist to her father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor however Chris Riches asks if that is sensible?
Sarah Ferguson, Andrew, Eugenie and Beatrice at Royal Ascot (Picture: Getty)
When Christmas got here for the ‘once-Yorks’ of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, their two daughters well determined discretion was the higher a part of valour – and stayed away. On Christmas Day morning, as Andrew and Fergie opened their present, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie joined King Charles and the remainder of the royals assembly well-wishers exterior the normal Sandringham Property church service.
Rumours that Eugenie has utterly lower ties along with her father, within the wake of the Epstein scandal, are stated to be exaggerated and privately each have given him assist. However 35-year-old Eugenie, who established The Anti-Slavery Collective to assist counter intercourse trafficking, continues to be stated to take a dim view of her father’s refusal to apologise to Epstein’s victims. He denies any wrongdoing.
But whereas Eugenie was final solely seen in public along with her dad at an enormous household gathering – the christening of Beatrice’s daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi at St James’s Palace – Beatrice has been way more seen in her assist.
And as Andrew prepares to swap luxurious Royal Lodge for a quieter life on the extra ramshackle Marsh Farm in Norfolk – that is if he really goes there – is Beatrice being loyal or deluded by nailing her colors firmly to his mast?
Final week Beatrice, and her 4 year-old daughter Sienna, have been seen becoming a member of her father Andrew for a horse journey at Windsor Fortress, with the trio seen within the Royal Mews earlier than heading out into House Park.
Pictures present a downcast-looking Andrew using forward, whereas Beatrice walked alongside a groom who held the reins as little Sienna, bundled up in a pink puffer jacket, rode atop a white horse.
They spent greater than 45 minutes wandering the grounds, and it has been claimed Beatrice additionally just lately visited her father at Royal Lodge.
I am not criticising her for being loyal – it is the worthiest of attributes and reveals she has character.
However long run, is it sensible?
The explosive Epstein mud has not settled round both her mom or father but, after the York catastrophe of 2025 noticed them each stripped of titles, patronages and honours.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor rides close to Windsor Fortress in Berkshire final Wednesday (Picture: Peter Macdiarmid)
Final 12 months was fairly horrific for Andrew and there’s no signal this 12 months shall be any simpler.
On the finish of November 2025 Andrew was slammed by US politicians after failing to answer their request for an interview.
The Home Committee on Oversight and Authorities Reform had requested the previous prince to cooperate with its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s intercourse trafficking operations.
Andrew was instructed in a letter: “Allegations in opposition to you, alongside together with your long-standing friendship with Mr Epstein, point out that you could be possess data of his actions.”
That won’t go away. King Charles loves his youthful brother however he additionally needs him mothballed and out of the way in which.
Definitely that may be a view Prince William will passionately share.
So if Beatrice needs to ascertain a spot for her kids at future Royal Household occasions – perhaps as unofficial working royals (neither Sienna or Athena are princesses) in their very own proper – does it assist being always seen giving her disgraced father a shoulder to cry on?
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Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and Athena Mapelli Mozzi are tenth and eleventh respectively within the Line of Succession so – even in King Charles’ slimmed down monarchy – might nonetheless perform roles to assist the Royal Household when they’re older.
It might be sensible – for now – for Beatrice to echo her youthful sister and keep away from public posing with Andrew, in case his 2025 ‘Annus Horribilis’ turns into a 2026 ‘Annus Calamitosus’.
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