As controversy continues to swirl around Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over their connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, attention has increasingly turned to their daughters.
Princess Beatrice has remained in Britain, presenting a composed front in public, while Princess Eugenie has moved more than 1,000 miles away to the relative calm of the Iberian peninsula.
Far removed from the turmoil surrounding her family in the UK, Eugenie, 36, and her husband Jack Brooksbank, 40, are building a fresh chapter in a £3.6 million luxury villa by the ocean near the picturesque village of Meides.
Despite a deeply difficult year for the family, the princess has had personal joy to mark, following the safe arrival of her daughter Adelaide, who was born in Lisbon on August 3.
Eugenie is said to be appalled by her father’s conduct and is reportedly “keeping her distance”, while Beatrice, often described as more of a “daddy’s girl”, has stayed in the UK since the Epstein scandal again engulfed the House of York.
The contrast between the sisters has been striking. While Eugenie has been pictured smiling with her newborn, Beatrice appeared noticeably solitary last month as she attended the funeral of Paddy McNally, her mother’s flamboyant millionaire former boyfriend.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes Eugenie’s move away from Britain has helped reshape how she is viewed by the public, with the princess appearing to enjoy a greater sense of freedom than her sister.
Mr Fitzwilliams told Our News Outlet: “Beatrice and Eugenie have had an extremely tough period whilst their parents are publicly disgraced. Yet there has been a change in the perception of Eugenie.”
While Princess Beatrice continues to put on a brave face in the UK, her sister Eugenie has fled more than 1,000 miles away to the sunshine haven of the Iberian peninsula
Amid an incredibly challenging year, Eugenie also has reason to celebrate as she welcomed the safe arrival of her daughter Adelaide on August 3, who was born in Lisbon
While Eugenie is said to be repelled by her father’s behaviour and is ‘keeping her distance’, Beatrice is known to be more of a ‘daddy’s girl’ and has remained in the UK
‘A happy event, the birth of Adelaide and the delightful photographs Eugenie has shared with us, remind us all of the very human predicament of those in the public eye with parents who have disgraced themselves.’
In August Eugenie revealed the name of her baby as Adelaide Elizabeth Brooksbank in a sweet tribute to her beloved grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Eugenie said her daughter’s name takes inspiration from people she and her husband ‘love and admire, past and present’ – and accompanied the announcement with a photo of the newborn sleeping.
Adelaide, who will not be an HRH, is born 15th in line to the throne with her great-uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, moving down to 16th place.
However, the Brooksbanks’ decision to welcome their daughter 1,000 miles away on the Iberian peninsula underlines just how deeply rooted the couple have become in the country.
Mr Fitzwilliams added: ‘Adelaide being born in Portugal, Britain’s oldest ally and named after a Portuguese Princess and an English Queen is novel.
‘The fact that she was born abroad and that Eugenie, who works remotely and Jack divide their time between Britain and Portugal also helps to distance them from the fallout from the scandals that have hit the Yorks.
‘Eugenie is reportedly keeping a distance from her errant father, ignoring him at least publicly on Father’s Day is one example.’
Indeed, Andrew is said to have found out she was pregnant only via his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, with whom Eugenie keeps in touch.
According to the royal expert, Beatrice ‘appreciates the need for a visible distance between her and her father, but she is still the one who is considered closest to him’.
He added: ‘Beatrice is the older sister. Initially it was not realised that she had been pivotal in advising her father on the catastrophically imbecilic Newsnight interview. It is now common knowledge after being dramatised.’
In stark contrast to images shared of Eugenie beaming with her newborn, Beatrice cut a rather lonely figure last month while attending the funeral of Paddy McNally
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwillams, Eugenie’s departure from the UK has helped ‘change’ the public’s perception of her and the princess has appeared ‘freer’
The fact Adelaide was born abroad and that Eugenie and Jack ‘divide their time between Britain and Portugal also helps to distance them from the fallout’, said Mr Fitzwilliams
In contrast, local residents in Portugal were previously said to have heard whispers that Sarah – who has not been seen publicly for a considerable time – has visited to help look after her fifth grandchild.
Staff at the nearby O Fadista restaurant, which Our News Outlet previously visited, said that Eugenie, Jack and Sarah are regulars at the pretty whitewashed building on the main Rua Nova that serves generous pots of seafood rice.
One waiter said: ‘Eugenie and her husband are regulars and have been here quite a few times with friends. Their mothers have also been here several times but I’ve never seen the father, Andrew.
‘Now Eugenie has had a baby, there has been talk that Sarah is back in Melides to help her with the new little one.’
News that Sarah could be assisting Eugenie with her childcare comes after the release of three million pages of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice in February which laid bare the former Duchess’ relations with the sex offender.
Mr Fitzwilliams acknowledged that the tranche of documents released have made this a ‘stressful and phenomenally difficult period for Eugenie and Jack’.
He added: ‘Jack’s luxury brand has not, we understand, been affected by his in-laws disgrace as he has reportedly enforced strict boundaries on contact with them . Their marriage is strong too.
‘We know that Eugenie used to be the member of the royal family who was closest to the Sussexes.
‘Reports indicate that that is no longer the case and it is even said they are no longer in touch, which would be interpreted as a welcome sign of support from the beleaguered royal family.’
Andrew has been engulfed by the scandal surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while their mother Sarah Ferguson has suffered her own fall from grace.
Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February when police descended on Wood Farm in Sandringham, Norfolk, where he had been living for the previous fortnight.
The former prince spent 11 hours in custody while officers searched his property at Sandringham before he was released under investigation.
Fergie’s emails to the paedophile financier revealed she took Eugenie and Beatrice to visit Epstein days after his release from prison for child prostitution offences.
Other messages from Fergie to Epstein even talked about Eugenie’s sex life, declaring in one that the princess had been away on a ‘s****ing weekend’ when she was 19.
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