‘I worked for Princess Eugenie – here’s what she’s really like behind closed doors’

Princess Eugenie and her sister Princess Beatrice are said to be in a ‘deeply painful period’ as allegations about their disgraced father, Prince Andrew, continue to spark chaos

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie appear to have pulled out from public events for the time being as their father, Prince Andrew, drops his royal titles.

The sisters had been scheduled to attend an event at the British Museum over the weekend, attended by celebrities and members of the aristocracy, but failed to show.

Andrew announced on Friday that he would be giving up his Duke of York title and all other honours following the intense scrutiny he has faced over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre – one of Epstein’s victims – accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her on three occasions in 2001, when she was 17 and had been trafficked by Epstein. Andrew vehemently denies these claims.

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Prince Andrew has dropped his royal titles(Image: AP)

A newly surfaced email shows Andrew allegedly telling Epstein they were “in this together”. The alleged correspondence was sent in February 2011, after the prince claimed to have cut contact with the paedophile.

He claimed in his infamous Emily Maitlis interview that he had ceased contact with Epstein in December 2010. Andrew allegedly suggested in the email – said to have been sent from his official account – that the two would “play together soon” while urging the paedophile to “keep in close touch”.

As the coverage surrounding Andrew increased over the weekend, he announced on Friday that he would no longer use his Duke of York title and any royal honours that had been bestowed on him, as “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”

Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, also finds herself embroiled in a scandal, having allegedly ‘borrowed’ cash from Epstein for 15 years.

The former couple’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, will be suffering a ‘deeply painful’ period as they navigate the allegations swirling around their parents, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.

It marks a major blow for the princesses, who had reportedly been hoping to move towards a more senior position within the Royal Family.

It comes as a former royal butler once offered a rare glimpse into what Eugenie is really like in private. Grant Harrold served as a butler for King Charles, who was then Prince of Wales, between 2004 and 2011.

He claims his close understanding of the royal household has provided him with deep insight into the princess’s character, which he characterises as “very kind and gentle.”, the Express reports.

He previously shared: “Princess Eugenie and her sister Beatrice were always really nice. Whenever I dealt with them, they were very sweet and gentle. Always said their ‘please and thank yous’ and were very polite.”

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A royal butler has previously revealed what Eugenie is like(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)

Grant, speaking on behalf of OLBG, continued: “They were extremely lovely young women, and were much-loved members of the Royal Family.”

He revealed how close the King is with his niece, and he believed at the time that Charles would stay committed to keeping her included in private family gatherings.

Grant continued: “The King is very fond of his nieces, and gets on with both of them really well. He will encourage them to come to family events, he will want them to be included in those private family celebrations.”

Eugenie lives with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, in Ivy Cottage within the Kensington Palace estate, while her elder sister, Beatrice, has settled with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a property developer, in a £3.5million Cotswolds home.

Whilst the pair maintain strong ties with their mum and dad, Eugenie told Vogue magazine they’re forging their own paths. “We want to show people who we are: working, young, royal women… not afraid of putting ourselves out there,” she said.

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Prince Andrew denies the claims against him(Image: GETTY)

However, one palace insider painted a different picture, suggesting the duo had privileged, disconnected childhoods.

The source told the Daily Mail: “Beatrice and Eugenie grew up in this rarefied world in which there was always someone to do everything for you.

“That was illustrated when Beatrice had her BMW stolen in 2009 after leaving it unlocked with the car keys in the ignition. I think she was used to her police protection officer looking after such things.

“Whether you believe it was their decision [to not be working royals] or it was they and their father putting a brave face on things, he and they said they wanted careers instead of a life of ribbon-cutting. Andrew maintained it was their decision.”