Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will reportedly not ride in the royal carriage procession at Royal Ascot this year—an important royal tradition that signals who is in favor within the monarchy. The decision is seen as a victory for Prince William, who has long pushed for the Prince Andrew branch of the family to be distanced from royal duties due to the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
William has also reportedly lobbied to remove Andrew from the line of succession, while King Charles III has taken a softer approach, insisting Andrew’s daughters should not be punished for their father’s actions. However, newly released Epstein-related documents have again linked the York family to the disgraced financier, intensifying scrutiny.
Beatrice and Eugenie—who are not working royals but still hold royal titles—have faced renewed questions about their role, finances, and lifestyle. Their past alignment with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has also raised eyebrows within palace circles.
Sources say William favors a smaller monarchy and wants to limit public roles to a tight inner circle. Excluding the York sisters from the Ascot procession may signal that his stricter vision for the royal family is beginning to take shape.