The scandal surrounding Prince Andrew, borne of his own actions, has significantly impacted his immediate family: his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters.
Ms. Ferguson, 66, has faced scrutiny regarding her own connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
She is reportedly preparing to move out of Royal Lodge and establish separate living arrangements, with sources indicating she will not be relocating to Sandringham in Norfolk with Prince Andrew.
Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, will retain their royal titles, as they are the daughters of a son of a Sovereign.
However, questions persist regarding their ability to distance themselves from the ongoing controversy involving their parents.
Ms. Ferguson, who relinquished her Duchess title when Prince Andrew gave up his Duke of York title weeks ago, had largely avoided direct criticism related to the Epstein scandal until recently.
In September, several charities terminated their relationships with her as patron or ambassador following the emergence of a 2011 email in which she referred to Epstein as her “supreme friend” and appeared to apologize for previously criticizing him.
Her only remaining charitable affiliation is with her own foundation, Sarah’s Trust.
The Trust previously featured a “duchess collection” of products, including tea and biscuit sets, to raise funds; however, the associated website is no longer active.
The Trust’s stated causes include supporting vulnerable communities, with a focus on “forgotten women” globally.
BBC News has made repeated attempts to contact the charity to inquire about the appropriateness of such a cause given Ms. Ferguson’s ties to Epstein. The listed phone number is not recognized, and emails have been returned undelivered.
The matter has been raised with the Charity Commission, which stated that a member of its team had contacted the charity to remind them to keep their contact details updated.
Beyond her philanthropic work, Ms. Ferguson is involved in various business ventures and has authored several children’s books, non-fiction works about Queen Victoria, and her own memoirs.
Her latest children’s book, initially slated for publication on October 9 according to a press release in Bookseller, is now listed on Amazon with a release date of November 28.
Waterstones bookstores informed BBC News that the publication date for “Flora And Fern: Kindness Along The Way” had been “moved” and that they did not have a new date.
New Frontier Publishing, her publisher, has not responded to requests for comment.
However, one industry source told the BBC that “it would be an entirely sensible decision” to delay publication.
Ms. Ferguson’s other publishers have remained silent regarding their plans to continue working with her.
Harper Collins, which published two of her titles, most recently “A Most Intriguing Lady” in 2023, declined to comment but noted that both books remain in print and available.
“Publishers don’t tend to drop authors, they just quietly don’t renew contracts,” said Neill Denny, editor of the book trade news website Book Brunch.
He added that while speculation has arisen about Ms. Ferguson, or even Prince Andrew, writing a tell-all memoir, “I think the publishers would be wary of taking on the ex Duchess of York’s story.”
As for Beatrice and Eugenie, the retention of their princess titles can be viewed as a small victory for Prince Andrew, who likely sought to protect his daughters, even at his own expense.
Both princesses appear to have left the UK this week.
Beatrice was photographed at an investment summit in Saudi Arabia. Her family has longstanding ties to the Middle East, and she recently appeared in a promotional image for a UAE bank.
Meanwhile, Eugenie was pictured in Paris with friends.
While some sympathy has been extended to the princesses, they have not been entirely shielded from the scandals surrounding their parents.
Earlier this week, a photograph resurfaced showing Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Harvey Weinstein at Beatrice’s 18th birthday party in Windsor.
The Telegraph also reported on a leaked email from Epstein to his UK-based lawyer suggesting that Ms. Ferguson and the princesses visited Epstein in New York after his release from prison in 2009.
A source close to Ms. Ferguson insisted that neither she nor her daughters had any recollection of such a visit, according to the newspaper.
In 2018, Beatrice stated in a joint interview with her sister in British Vogue: “We are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and we’re also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye.”
The princesses are not working royals and both hold jobs: Beatrice founded advisory firm BY-Eq, while Eugenie works at the gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Both are married with children. Beatrice splits her time between her Cotswolds property and an apartment in St. James’s Palace. Eugenie lives between Portugal and a property in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
On Friday night, royal sources stated that the late Queen’s corgis will continue to be cared for by Andrew, Sarah, and their daughters, although it is uncertain at which residence they will reside.
Both princesses also have their own philanthropic endeavors. Eugenie established the anti-slavery collective, a charity focusing on victims of sex trafficking. According to the most recently available accounts, it raised £1.5 million in donations last year but has distributed very little, with £1.3 million carried forward.
BBC News contacted the charity for comment in light of the recent controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and Epstein but has received no response.
At the conclusion of this tumultuous week, many questions remain unanswered.
Family time will undoubtedly become more challenging. Prince Andrew’s move to Norfolk means he will no longer be in close proximity to his daughters and grandchildren.
Ms. Ferguson, who maintained a close relationship with Prince Andrew and resided with him at Royal Lodge despite their divorce in 1996, will also be moving.
On Saturday, The Times reported that Prince Andrew “finally” agreed to leave his Windsor mansion after it became clear that his ex-wife would be moving out.
Ms. Ferguson’s representatives declined to comment when contacted by BBC News.
Her future residence remains unclear. She recently sold her Belgravia flat, purchased for £4.2 million. While Land Registry records still list the property in her name, her spokesperson confirmed to BBC News that the sale has been finalized.
The question of Christmas arrangements also looms.
It has been previously announced that Prince Andrew will be excluded from the traditional royal family gathering in Sandringham at Christmas.
Ms. Ferguson’s plans for the holiday are also uncertain.
The princesses will face a choice: whether to spend the holiday with their parents, their in-laws, or the wider Royal Family.
Their decision may be telling. With the York brand now irreparably tarnished, their choice of companions may signal their future allegiances.
Members of a panel investigating late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein say the former prince should “come clean”.
There are also no plans to formally remove Andrew from the line of succession, the government says.
The language of Buckingham Palace’s statement is “very brutal”, royal historian Kelly Swaby tells the BBC.
The sprawling Norfolk estate is home to several properties – here is a look at where Andrew might be moving in.
Some people in Carrickfergus suggest exchanging Prince Andrew Way for the name of another royal.