Despite attending their cousin’s wedding this weekend with other members of the royal family, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice have not fully rejoined the royal family since their father, former Prince Andrew, was arrested for his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
When asked if she had the royal blessing to attend Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding, Emily Nash exclusively told Page Six:
“I don’t think you can get too deep into the fact that they’re attending a family wedding, but to some degree it’s also that they’re coming from the cold,” Nash said. “Because we haven’t seen them together in public for a long time, and of course without their parents and with their wider family.”
Nash believes accepting the invitation is a “show of support” for the sisters, but there is a difference between being accepted by the family and being accepted by the monarchy.
“You have to remember that this is an institution on the one hand and a family on the other, and the two intersect. But there are also very clear lines,” she says.
As the investigation into Andrew’s alleged sex crimes continues, there are questions as to whether Eugenie and Beatrice’s titles have been revealed.
“Certainly they are still part of the family and there is clearly a lot of interest and love for them within the family,” Nash said. “But you know, the question remains, what will their title be in the long run?”
As for whether he was in danger of losing the title, Nash said, “I think it’s too early to say.”
Nash believes the scandal has been “incredibly difficult” for Beatrice and Eugenie, as well as “the wider royal family.”
“In hindsight, I wonder if Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice ever wondered how things would have been different for them if they hadn’t been given titles,” Nash said, noting that even though Phillips doesn’t have a title, he enjoys all the benefits of being Princess Anne’s son.
halo! The magazine’s editor explained that for now, the princesses should enjoy the fact that they are not ostracized like their father and mother Sarah Ferguson.
“Until we fully understand what happened and what their father is accused of and until the legal process reaches its conclusion, I think this is probably the best we can hope for, given that they will continue to attend family events,” Nash said.
He added that he hoped it would be an “uplifting moment” for Eugenie, 36, and Beatrice, 37, to be able to gather with their families for a wedding during “really difficult times”.
Prince Eugenie and Beatrice attended the ceremony amid revelations of their father’s scandal, but their cousin Prince Harry was left off the guest list.
“What we were told was that Peter hadn’t spoken to Harry in a few years, so naturally there was a cooling off and he wasn’t invited as a result,” Nash revealed.
Royal family members who attended last Saturday’s wedding included King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Duchess Kate, Prince Edward and Princess Sophie, as well as the groom’s mother Princess Anne and her husband Lieutenant General Timothy Lawrence, and Phillips’ sister Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall.
Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles in 2025, was arrested on February 19, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly forwarding confidential trade documents to Epstein. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to life in prison.
