Royal author Andrew Lownie has claimed that Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, husband of Princess Beatrice, and Jack Brooksbank, husband of Princess Eugenie, are pushing for their wives to distance themselves from their scandal-hit parents, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.
According to Lownie, both Beatrice and Eugenie are publicly downplaying their contact with their parents, recognizing that association is detrimental to their careers and public image. The husbands reportedly feel their own reputations and financial prospects could be tainted by their connection to the former Duke and Duchess of York, whose ties to Jeffrey Epstein have led to significant controversy.
'The husbands don't want their reputations and earnings tainted by association with Andrew and Sarah and are pushing for their daughters to distance themselves from their parents,' Lownie told The Daily Mail. He added that the husbands' families are also appalled by the actions of the former Duke and Duchess of York. Lownie also noted a pre-existing tension, stating that Ferguson never approved of Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's marriage to Beatrice.
This alleged push for distance comes amid ongoing speculation about the state of Beatrice and Mapelli Mozzi's marriage, which has been reportedly strained by the fallout from Prince Andrew's friendship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy surrounding Andrew and Ferguson intensified following the release of documents connected to Epstein.
Beatrice married Mapelli Mozzi in July 2020, with Prince Andrew conspicuously absent from official wedding portraits. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were included in the photos. Lownie suggested that Ferguson also had reservations about her daughter's marriage from the outset.
Despite the pressures, Lownie indicated that Beatrice and Eugenie feel a sense of loyalty to their parents, walking a difficult line between that loyalty and the pressure from their husbands. The princesses are also reportedly concerned about maintaining their standing within the Royal Family, including potential impacts on their subsidized living arrangements and titles, which could affect their earning potential.
Lownie described the relationship with Prince Andrew as particularly fractured and complex, with daughters absorbing each new disclosure about his dealings. He suggested that Andrew is unlikely to see his new grandchild in person. While relations with Andrew are strained, Lownie believes the connection between Ferguson and her daughters remains somewhat intact, though Eugenie's relationship with her mother may have diminished due to revelations about Ferguson's past associations with Epstein.