Princess Eugenie was holidaying in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Gstaad with her family as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on his 66th birthday, it was revealed today.
Andrew’s youngest daughter, 35, is said to be ‘in a state’ after her father was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office following a raid on his new Sandringham home on Thursday.
But just before the arrest of her father, who had already been reported to nine different police forces, Eugenie embarked on an expensive half term ski trip.
Eugenie’s family holiday to the Swiss Alps confirms that Andrew was about to spend his 66th birthday alone without his daughters and ex-wife – with only his seven dogs for company – when six police cars arrived at his door at 8am yesterday.
He was arrested and spent almost 12 hours in custody before his release after being processed like a ‘common criminal suspect’.
One man who lives on the Sandringham estate, told the Eastern Daily Press of Andrew’s demeanour and lonely new life yesterday: ‘He’s always got a miserable face’.
The Daily Mail revealed today how Sarah Ferguson’s friends admit she is in a ‘bad way’ and fears that ‘everyone is out to get her’ following her ex-husband’s arrest.
Eugenie’s parents feature heavily in the Epstein Files and Fergie’s emails to the convicted paedophile revealed she took Eugenie and Beatrice to visit him days after his release from prison for child prostitution offences. Fergie even spoke to Epstein about Eugenie’s sex life and boyfriends.
So diners at the busy and expensive Restaurant Waldmatte in Gstaad admitted they were shocked to see her given the scandal engulfing her family.
One who saw Eugenie at lunch told Hello!: ‘I was surprised to see her because I thought she would be keeping a low-profile in light of everything that has been going on’.
Eugenie was spotted in the Swiss Alps with her husband Jack Brooksbank, their sons August and Ernest and their nanny perusing the menu at a restaurant famed for potato rosti, raclette, fondue and Viennese sausage on Wednesday.
The Brooksbanks were with friends who had also joined them at the eaterie with a large terrace and breathtaking views of the Alps, although they opted to stay inside.
The diner added: ‘Eugenie and Jack were with the children, the nanny and a group of friends. They were tucked away in a corner and casually dressed in ski gear and jackets, and Jack was wearing a beanie hat as they both browsed the menu.’
Eugenie, pictured on a previous ski holiday with son Ernest last winter, has been spotted in the Swiss Alps as her father was arrested
Her husband Jack, also pictured with Ernie on a previous trip, was also there with their two children and the nanny
The ski trip came after Eugenie was seen working in Doha at an art fair last week amid reports her mother Sarah Ferguson had joined her on the trip to the UAE.
Beatrice has not been seen at all in recent weeks.
Fergie is in a ‘bad way’ and feels that ‘everyone is out to get her’, her friends have admitted following ex-husband’s arrest.
The former Duchess of York, 66, who has not been seen in public for five months, may now look to the UAE for cash and abandon her dream of a new home in Windsor to be near Beatrice and Eugenie.
But she is said to have told friends that there will be no tell-all book detailing the family’s ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, though she ‘might end up having to tell that story to the police’.
This week it emerged that six of Sarah Ferguson’s companies are being wound down over the next ten days.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have also been said to be ‘in a state’ following their father’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The shamed former royal spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday yesterday after plain-clothed officers swooped on his Wood Farm residence in an 8am raid.
Police were spotted attending the Norfolk home again shortly after 6am this morning, while vehicles have also been seen arriving at Royal Lodge.
However, there has so far been no word from Fergie or her daughters, and questions have been mounting over their whereabouts.
A royal source told the Daily Mail: ‘I’ve been talking to some of her friends. She sounds in a bad way. She’s been telling people she is really suffering with her mental health and thinks everyone is out to get her.