Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have reportedly been told they will not take part in this year’s Royal Ascot carriage procession—one of the most visible symbols of royal favor. According to The Mail on Sunday, the decision signals a clear demotion for the York sisters, long associated with the event alongside their father, Prince Andrew.
The move appears to mark a victory for Prince William, who has long pushed for a tougher stance on the York family. The latest disclosures from U.S. “Epstein files” have intensified scrutiny of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, revealing deeper ties to Jeffrey Epstein than previously known, including financial links and visits involving the family. While there is no suggestion the princesses committed crimes, the documents have reignited concerns about the family’s judgment and associations.
William has reportedly been frustrated by what he sees as his father’s leniency. King Charles III has consistently maintained that Andrew’s daughters should not be punished for their father’s actions, even appointing Beatrice to a charitable role after Andrew was stripped of remaining titles. However, allies of William believed greater caution was needed.
Tensions between William and his York cousins are longstanding. The sisters were excluded from full-time royal roles during Charles’ earlier push for a slimmed-down monarchy and later appeared aligned with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, even moving into Frogmore Cottage after the Sussexes left the U.K.
Sources say William and Catherine once suggested the sisters undergo an independent financial audit to quell speculation about their wealth, but the proposal was declined.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reports that William has also been lobbying to remove Andrew from the line of succession altogether. Andrew remains eighth in line, but the government is reportedly considering legal steps—requiring parliamentary action and coordination across Commonwealth realms—to change that.
Taken together, the Ascot exclusion and renewed succession pressure suggest William’s harder line is gaining ground. The direction points toward a leaner monarchy, with tighter control over who represents the crown—and fewer roles for the wider family.