What the Epstein emails mean for Beatrice and Eugenie
Another week, another headline for the House of York. After a bruising few days, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie find their names threaded through newly released emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein. None of this proves wrongdoing by the sisters or by their father, Prince Andrew, who has always denied any allegation. It does, however, raise questions about proximity, judgement and what counts as a ‘working royal’ in 2026.
First, what are we looking at? The latest batch of court documents and emails - often called the “Epstein files” - show social arrangements, travel notes and favours exchanged. Being named in these papers is not, on its own, evidence of a crime. The discomfort comes from the context: Epstein’s conviction for offences involving minors, and how quickly some people returned to his orbit after his 2009 release.
Emails suggest the sisters had lunch with Epstein in Miami days after his release. Media shorthand often calls them “the girls”, but at that point Eugenie was 19 and Beatrice 21. Other messages appear to call on them to meet contacts and even give Buckingham Palace tours. You can see why the optics look poor, even if, as friends of the family argue, they were joining trips arranged by their mother.
Commentators split on how much agency to place on the sisters. Some argue they were adults and therefore accountable for choices. Others say the emails make for very uncomfortable reading yet many people will still feel sympathy, not least because seeing a photograph that seems to show your father on all fours near a young woman is humiliating for any family.
The emails also hint at perks and favours. One exchange appears to show flights for the family being covered to the tune of $14,080.10. In return, there are moments where Epstein or his assistant ask whether the princesses can meet people or host them, and one message - attributed to “Sarah” - uses the phrase “shagging weekend” about Eugenie’s plans. A separate contact mocks the Duchess of York with a nickname. None of this is criminal; all of it feeds an image problem.
Where do Beatrice and Eugenie sit inside the Royal Family today? They are not working royals and do not receive Sovereign Grant funding. Both have children and paid jobs. Beatrice set up an advisory firm called BY‑EQ. Eugenie works as a director at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth in Mayfair. Their public projects, though, keep them in the frame as figures with soft influence.
Eugenie co‑founded the Anti‑Slavery Collective, which focuses on modern slavery and trafficking. Supporters say the cause matters more than the optics; critics argue the association jars given the family history now under scrutiny. According to BBC reporting of the charity’s most recent accounts, donations dropped from around £1.5m in 2024 to £48,000 in the year to 2025, with healthy reserves still in place. The group has said it aims to stage a major gala every three years, but one sector source told the BBC such high‑profile events are hard to justify right now.
If you’re studying charity governance, this is a real‑world case study. Trustees must manage conflicts, reputational risk and the duty to protect beneficiaries. The Anti‑Slavery Collective did not respond to multiple BBC requests for comment following the latest emails. Other partners have been more public: Outward Bound described Beatrice’s role as Deputy Patron as honorary, while the Salvation Army, which has worked with Eugenie for years, said it is keeping survivors’ interests first and is monitoring developments.
Beyond charities, both women mix with business networks that overlap with royal introductions. Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have attended Pitch@Palace events, and in 2020 they were pictured with the then Chinese ambassador alongside their parents. Last year, Beatrice appeared at an investment summit in Saudi Arabia and later in a promotional image for a UAE bank. Critics say this blurs civic duty with commercial opportunity; supporters counter that private citizens are entitled to careers.
On Eugenie’s day job, Hauser & Wirth has faced legal action over alleged breaches of Russian sanctions, which it strongly contests. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Eugenie. According to Southwark Crown Court, as reported by the BBC, the case is listed for trial in 2028. This is a useful reminder for media literacy: allegations against an employer do not automatically implicate an employee.
Money and housing questions always sharpen public debate about royals. It is understood the sisters pay rent on their grace‑and‑favour homes - Beatrice between the Cotswolds and St James’s Palace; Eugenie between Portugal and Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace - though the Palace has not confirmed whether the rent matches market rates. After anger over Andrew’s lease at his former Windsor residence, calls for greater transparency have grown. This week he moved to the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, distancing him from his daughters and grandchildren. There has also been speculation that Sarah Ferguson could relocate to Portugal to be near Eugenie.
Inside the family, insiders say the sisters are staying loyal in private while keeping a public distance. Their titles remain, as does their place in the line of succession. They maintain friendly ties with both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex; Eugenie has visited Harry in California. At Christmas they joined the wider family at Sandringham, a sign - many think - that the King wants them within the fold. The long‑term task is clear: keep doing useful work, answer fair questions, and avoid letting their parents’ scandal become their story.