Princess Beatrice and Eugenie Will Not Join the Royal Family This Easter — Why the King Is Distancing Himself from Them

For the first time in recent memory, two members of the Royal Family will be notably absent from Windsor Castle's Easter Sunday service — not because of illness, not because of distance, but because of a decision that goes all the way to the King.

Something is noticeably absent from the Royal Family's Easter Sunday lineup at Windsor Castle this year, and the story behind it has resonated far beyond palace walls.

Two Princesses Missing From Windsor, and Here Is Why

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will not be joining the rest of the Royal Family for the Easter Matins service at Windsor's 15th-century chapel in Berkshire. According to reports, the two sisters sought King Charles III's agreement to make other plans, and the King gave it.

Their father, the former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is currently under investigation by authorities for allegedly sharing confidential information with disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein during his time in public office. Thus, the investigation has shifted the shape of this year's Easter considerably.

It was a different picture just 12 months ago. Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, were both at the same annual service, standing alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla. This year, neither Andrew nor his daughters will be at Windsor.

The Girls Are Not Going, and the Public Has Something to Say

Sources close to the family have been at pains to clarify that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have not distanced themselves from the wider Royal Family.

Both princesses were at Sandringham for Christmas, and it has been confirmed they "will be seen" at future family celebrations. Their absence this Easter is specific to the current circumstances, sources say.

That clarity, however, has done little to quiet a deeply sympathetic public response. "This is such a shame. They're not responsible for their parents [sic] actions😢," wrote one commenter.

"This is sad. I feel like most of the public will feel for them as well because this is completely unfair to them who are being caught up in their parents actions [sic]," added another.

The feeling that two women were being asked to account for choices that were never theirs came through in comment after comment, as one self-described royalist set out a considered case.

"I am a royalist but I do think this is unfair. Why penalise the princesses for their parent's mistakes? They were only children at the time, so making out they might have covered up knowledge of what was going on is a bit unfair. Wrong decision in my opinion [sic]," they shared.

Others were more direct. "This is so sad & very wrong. Why should the children be punished for the sins of the father!" typed one reader. "Why punish the children? So unfair x," added another. "Very harsh on the girls. Not their fault what their parents were involved in," agreed a third.

One netizen offered a different read entirely, suggesting the princesses themselves may not be entirely unhappy with the arrangement. "This is horrible but im [sic] sure the girls are happy not to be there," they commented.

Another turned focus to the institution itself rather than the individuals within it, remarking, "This pompous hierarchy needs to be gone! Everyone has skeletons in their closet, including the king."

The briefest assessment, though, came from a reader who stopped mid-thought. "The king turned his back on untrustworthy [sic]," they wrote.

Why the King Is Distancing Himself from Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

King Charles III has reportedly begun distancing himself from his nieces, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, as scrutiny over the York family's finances and associations intensifies.

The shift marks a significant change from the monarch's earlier efforts to shield the daughters of the former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, from the fallout of their parents' controversies.

According to royal insiders, the King's patience has run out — and the consequences for both women could be severe.

The princesses, aged 37 and 35 respectively, have faced mounting pressure to speak publicly about their father's ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to controversial billionaire David Rowland, who was once described in Parliament as a "shady financier."

At the time of writing, neither sister has addressed the allegations, and that silence appears to have cost them dearly at the Palace.

An Offer They Should Not Have Refused

Sources close to the royal family say His Majesty had previously attempted to help his nieces navigate the crisis.

Furthermore, William, Prince of Wales, reportedly extended an offer for a senior royal adviser to conduct an "ethics" review of the sisters' finances — a gesture designed to safeguard their reputations before things spiralled further out of control. However, the offer was turned down.

That refusal is said to have deeply frustrated the heir to the throne, and it appears the King has now followed suit in his disappointment.

Royal watchers note that both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were conspicuously absent from the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year, and sources suggest they are unlikely to appear at major events including Trooping the Colour, the Chelsea Flower Show, or Wimbledon.

Royal biographer and Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward described the sisters as being in a "no-win" position, noting that speaking out could make things worse.

"I've no doubt they've been advised to lie low and keep out of the way," she said, adding that while the King has long been fond of his nieces, publicly supporting them right now would reflect poorly on the monarchy.

Two Sisters, Two Very Different Reactions

Behind closed doors, the pressure is taking a visible toll — though the two women are said to be handling it very differently. A royal source painted a striking picture of the emotional atmosphere surrounding the York sisters.

"Both girls are very highly strung and emotional, like their mother," the source said, referencing their mum Sarah Ferguson. Princess Beatrice, the elder of the two, is reportedly finding it particularly hard.

"Beatrice is trying to come to terms with it matter-of-factly, although can't help bursting into tears regularly — not for her father but for the implosion of her own world and, especially, the family's cold shoulder. Her royal status means more to her than Eugenie," the source revealed.

Princess Eugenie, meanwhile, is said to be taking a very different approach. According to the same insider, she "has apparently gone into denial — fingers in the ears, head in the sand, hoping it will all go away."

Royal author Andrew Lownie, who spent years researching the York family for his biography "Entitled," was blunt about what needs to happen next.

"It's time for the princesses and their father to come clean," he said, arguing that the latest developments have raised serious questions that cannot simply be waited out.

The Financial Cloud Hanging Over the Family

Adding fuel to the fire is an allegation, first reported by The Mail on Sunday, that Andrew lobbied for both of his daughters to be handed £50,000 apiece from David — while simultaneously working to advance the billionaire's commercial dealings during his time representing British trade interests abroad.

Those in the princesses' circle insist neither woman remembers any such money changing hands — though both are said to have gone back through their old financial records in an attempt to get to the bottom of the claims. No confirmation or denial had been made public at the time of writing.

With MPs reportedly calling for greater scrutiny of royal finances, the window for the sisters to quietly ride out the storm appears to be closing.

"Having acted quite brutally against Andrew, courtiers will have no compunction in moving against Beatrice and Eugenie if the King authorises it," warned one royal source.

Could They Lose Their HRH Titles?

And then there is the detail that may shock even those who have been following the story closely. Discussions are said to be underway between Downing Street and Buckingham Palace about whether Andrew should be formally removed from the line of succession.

But the conversation, insiders warn, may not stop with him. According to a royal source, there is a "growing feeling that it should be a block expulsion" — meaning the princesses could face calls to lose their HRH titles as well.

Signs that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are gradually being airbrushed out of royal life, says the source, "suggest that things aren't going their way."

Whether the sisters will break their silence or continue to weather the storm quietly remains to be seen. What is clear is that the coming weeks will be defining — not just for their public roles, but for their futures within the royal family altogether.