Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie often highlight that they are “working, young, royal women” who balance their roles as mothers with building careers outside the traditional royal system.
They say they draw strength from their mother, Sarah Ferguson, and remain deeply protective of their father, Prince Andrew, despite the strain the Epstein scandal has put on the family.
However, a royal insider now claims that although the sisters have grown into “intelligent, polite women,” their “rarified” upbringing also taught them to be “just as entitled as their parents.”
According to the Daily Mail’s source, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson both believe their daughters “deserve” the privileged lifestyle of princesses — supported by their connections, but without the responsibilities of full-time royal duties.
The York family has reportedly been willing to bring their children on international business trips and introduce them to questionable acquaintances if it helped secure the royal-style life they once enjoyed at Windsor’s Royal Lodge.
The insider claims Andrew has spent years ensuring Beatrice and Eugenie have access to powerful networks, especially in the Gulf. The sisters have appeared in Saudi Arabia multiple times, where Andrew’s connections among the ultra-wealthy run deep.
“They were never going to be working royals, but they have benefited enormously from their family ties,” the source said. “Andrew introduced them to many of his business contacts and foreign royals. He and Fergie have also become friendly with some shady people.”
The insider also recalled past incidents that reflected their unusual upbringing, such as Beatrice’s BMW theft in 2009, when she left the car unlocked with the keys inside — assuming her protection officer would handle it.
Whether the decision not to pursue royal duties was truly theirs or a strategic move supported by their father, Andrew has always insisted that his daughters wanted careers rather than ceremonial roles.
Beatrice and Eugenie, along with their mother, have traveled widely with both parents and were drawn into several controversies over the years. Andrew notably invited Jeffrey Epstein to Beatrice’s 18th birthday in 2006. There was also the mysterious £750,000 payment from a millionaire that Andrew said was for Beatrice’s wedding, and a High Court case revealed that Eugenie received £25,000 from the same man, including a £15,000 early “birthday gift.”
Despite the controversies, the Daily Mail source emphasized that both sisters have become devoted mothers and remain polite, well-mannered women.
Andrew Lownie’s biography of Prince Andrew, Entitled , revealed further details about their childhood. A former staff member described extravagant nightly meals ordered by Sarah Ferguson — “a whole side of beef, a leg of lamb, and a chicken” — which often went uneaten by anyone except Sarah and her daughters, before being thrown away the next morning.
Although Andrew and Sarah divorced in 1996, they continue to live together in Windsor and remain extremely close to Beatrice and Eugenie. Over the years, the family has been frequently seen together at major events such as Royal Ascot.
Lownie also wrote that Sarah sometimes struggled to manage her energetic daughters, often relying on nannies except when photographers were present. According to him, photo shoots for Hello! magazine were “completely staged” with staff nearby to take over as soon as each shot was finished.
The biography also includes claims of snobbery. At one outreach event involving local authority schools, one of the sisters allegedly objected to sharing the royal box and asked instead for guests “who shop at John Lewis.”
Both Beatrice and Eugenie attended Marlborough College, the same school Kate Middleton once attended.