Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were always known to have a close bond with their parents, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.
But despite this, the two royal sisters appear to have frozen out the Duke of York at various poignant royal occasions amid his controversial connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
In the past few years, both Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Eugenie, 32, have undergone significant life events – including getting married and welcoming three children between them.
But any mention of Prince Andrew in the poignant moments has been amiss – and instead, the sisters seem to have made an effort to distance themselves from their father.
It’s also come during a period in which both sisters have stepped up into the limelight within The Firm, taking on various royal duties and appearing at official engagements.
Here FEMAIL takes a look back at all the times Eugenie and Beatrice have frozen out their disgraced father.
BEATRICE’S WEDDING DAY
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi pictured on their wedding day in Windsor in July 2022
Even though Prince Andrew walked his daughter down the aisle at All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor, he did not appear in any of the photos released to the public
Princess Beatrice married in July 2020 wearing both a tiara and vintage dress generously lent to her by her grandmother, deeply conscious that she was missing out on a traditional large wedding.
But there was no sign of her father Princess Andrew in any of the photographs of the released by the Palace.
Despite the Duke of York walking her down the aisle during the intimate ceremony at All Saints at Royal Lodge, a decision was taken not to include him in the images made public.
Andrew stepped down from public life in November after becoming embroiled in a scandal over his late paedophile friend, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Beatrice’s hastily arranged ceremony was attended only by close friends and family following the cancellation of a larger wedding in May due to lockdown.
Family friends insisted the secretive nature of the wedding was not down to Andrew, who was noticeably absent from the official photographs, and his issues over the Epstein scandal.
Andrew and Edo gave speeches and the newlyweds enjoyed their first night together as man and wife in a special glamping pod.
Images of Andrew at the event have never been released.
EUGENIE’S BABY NAME SNUBS
Earlier this week, Princess Eugenie announced she had named her second son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank – skipping over any reference to her father Prince Andrew
Princess Eugenie and August Philip Hawke Brooksbank attend the Platinum Pageant in June 2022
Six months later, it was confirmed Princess Eugenie had named her first born son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank – skipping over any reference to her father Prince Andrew.
Despite remaining close to her father, she chose not to name the little boy after Andrew – who also has a number of middle names to choose from.
Instead of choosing Albert Christian Edward for her first born son, she chose instead to name him after other relatives.
Eugenie went on to reveal the name was a touching tribute to Queen Victoria’s Husband Prince Albert, whose birth name was Franz Albert August Karl Emanuel, and Prince Philip, writing: ‘On his grandfather’s birthday weekend, thinking of my grandfather, we are introducing our little boy.
‘He is named after his great grandfather and both of his 5x great grandfathers.’
It was a similar story when she welcomed her second son Ernest was born earlier this week.
The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York took to Instagram yesterday to announce the birth of Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank on 30th May 2023.
Born last Tuesday weighing 7lbs 1oz, his name pays tribute to his late grandfather, Jack’s dad George, who died aged 72 in 2021, and Fergie’s father Major Ronald Ferguson.
Eugenie also said his name was a tribute to his great great great grandfather George V, whose middle name was also Ernest.
It means her children’s names pay tribute to Jack’s father and grandfather, while also paying tribute to Eugenie’s own paternal and maternal grandparents.
KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE AT ROYAL EVENTS
Prince Andrew was pictured mostly separately from the rest of his family on Christmas Day last year
Left: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi arrive at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate with the royal’s stepson Christopher Woolf. Right: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank arrive at the Christmas service
Elsewhere, the sisters have taken to arriving at royal events at a distance from their father.
Prince Andrew joined other members of the royal family for Sandringham Christmas service this year – but his daughters both walked into the service slightly apart from their father.
During his surprise appearance at Sandringham, Prince Andrew left members of the public bemused when he told them to ‘stand on a newspaper and you insulate your feet’.
A video showed the royal family member – seen without his daughters – chatting with the public and he asks a woman if she had cold feet.
When she responded ‘freezing’, he replied: ‘Did you know the trick is to bring a newspaper? Stand on a newspaper and you insulate your feet.’
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in April 2023
It was the same case at the Easter service, when Prince Andrew arrived alongside Princess Anne instead of his daughters.
And while Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were joined by both their parents at the Coronation concert in Windsor in May, the sisters sat several seats from their father.
Fergie and Andrew may have been seen chatting to one another, neither of the York girls were seen speaking to their parents.
LEFT OUT OF INSTAGRAM POSTS
Since joining Instagram in March 2018, Princess Eugenie has amassed over 1.8m followers – where she regularly shares personal snaps of her young son August and messages of support for her family.
Princess Eugenie posted this photo with her mother Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice over King Charles’ Coronation weekend
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured with their father Prince Andrew in happier times at Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding in 2011
Despite this, she has rarely shared snaps of her father over the last few years.
During the Coronation celebrations, she posted a photograph posing with Princess Beatrice and Sarah.
However, her father was noticeably missing from the group shot – even though he sat on the same row as his daughters for the historic ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
What’s more, Princess Eugenie even travelled in the same car as his youngest daughter to the Coronation.
This year, she has also shared birthday messages for Princess Beatrice, Fergie and her husband Jack, but not her father.
Last September, Princess Beatrice became a ‘counsellor of state’ following her beloved grandmother’s passing – meaning she can now stand-in for King Charles.
The law states that those allowed to step into his shoes include the sovereign’s spouse – now Queen Camilla – and the next four people over the age of 21 in the line of succession.
Beatrice is the fourth person in line to the throne aged over 21 so can take on the royal duties despite being in ninth position overall.
The other royals that can take on the responsibilities are Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, The Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York.
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