Princess Eugenie chose to stay away from a crucial family meeting at Royal Lodge on October 20, whilst her parents and sister gathered to address the aftermath of Prince Andrew’s shocking decision to surrender his royal titles.
The 35-year-old’s absence from the Windsor estate gathering was particularly notable given the gravity of the situation facing the York family.
An insider revealed to the Mail that the meeting “wasn’t a happy occasion and the family, once a strong unit, is fractured.”
Her elder sister, Princess Beatrice, did attend the crisis talks with their parents, but emerged from the property looking notably distressed.
The gathering took place just three days after Prince Andrew’s unexpected announcement on October 17.
The Windsor estate summit proved particularly traumatic for Sarah Ferguson, who experienced what one source described to the Mail as a “meltdown” over the prospect of forfeiting her Duchess title.
The former wife of Prince Andrew had reportedly been “wailing that he shouldn’t do it,” according to insiders, as she faced losing the designation she has held since 1986.
For nearly 40 years, the title had opened significant financial doors for Fergie, making its potential loss especially painful.
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Princess Beatrice left the property, appearing visibly affected by the tense discussions.
Observers saw the 37-year-old departing in her Range Rover with a troubled expression and unkempt appearance, her hair hastily tied back.
The emotional toll of the family crisis was evident in her demeanour as she drove away from the Windsor residence.
Royal sources have claimed that neither Princess Beatrice nor Princess Eugenie had any prior knowledge of their father’s intention to give up his royal honours before the public statement emerged.
The lack of advance notice about such a significant decision represented a major break from the previously tight-knit family’s usual communication patterns.
Neither of the princesses, aged 37 and 35, is thought to have been consulted or given any chance to prepare for the ramifications of their father’s dramatic announcement.
Sources familiar with the situation suggest Prince Andrew was “bounced into agreeing a statement” without first discussing it with his daughters.
The failure to inform them beforehand meant both women were completely caught off guard when news broke of the titles being surrendered.
The York sisters have reportedly turned to their respective families for support during this challenging time, according to royal sources.
Princess Beatrice has been finding refuge with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the 41-year-old property developer, at their £3.5million farmhouse in the Cotswolds.
The couple, who also maintain quarters at St James’s Palace, are raising daughters Sienna, four, and nine-month-old Athena, along with Beatrice’s nine-year-old stepson Wolfie.
Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, 39, who previously worked with George Clooney’s tequila venture Casamigos, divide their time between Portugal and Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace. They have sons August, four, and Ernest, two.
A royal insider observed: “They are both finding comfort in their husbands who come from families which are stable and loving.”