EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Lownie suggested the timing and optics of the princess’s public appearance risk sending the wrong message.

Eugenie is pictured with friend Caroline Daur, 30 (Image: Instagram)

Princess Eugenie has been accused of “sticking two fingers up” at the British public after stepping out at a high-profile art event in Qatar just days after fresh scrutiny surrounding her parents resurfaced. The 35-year-old royal was pictured smiling at Art Basel 2026 in Doha in her role as a director at Hauser & Wirth, as headlines in the UK once again centred on the fallout from the latest tranche of files linked to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

While appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, the renewed attention has proved deeply uncomfortable for the House of York. Eugenie’s father, Prince Andrewwas arrested this morning on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. He has consistently denied any allegations against him, Her mother, Sarah Ferguson, has also faced years of reputational damage stemming from past associations.

Andrew arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office

Royal author Andrew Lownie, who wrote Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, suggested the timing and optics of the princess’s public appearance risk sending the wrong message.

Mr Lownie said: “It could be an accident that a friend put the picture up, but I don’t think it is because it’s a close friend and they must have told their friends don’t do this, so it’s basically two fingers up, we can do what we want.”

The remark reflects a growing frustration in some quarters that members of the extended Royal Family appear insulated from the consequences of repeated controversies.

Eugenie has not commented on the latest release of documents. Nor has she posted on Instagram since November, when she shared an update about her charity work with The King’s Foundation. Notably, she did not publicly mark her son August’s fifth birthday this week, breaking from her usual pattern of sharing family milestones online.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, Sarah Ferguson and their daughters pictured at Ascot (Image: Getty)

The princess, who is not a working royal, has maintained a relatively low public profile in recent months. She was last seen with senior royals – excluding her parents – on Christmas Day 2025, alongside her sister Princess Beatrice and their husbands.

That appearance raised eyebrows at the time, with some observers interpreting it as a subtle distancing from Andrew and Ferguson during a period of heightened scrutiny.

Critics argue that appearing at a glittering international art fair while controversy swirls at home risks reinforcing perceptions of detachment.

Supporters counter that Eugenie is entitled to continue her professional life and should not be held responsible for the actions or associations of her parents.

Mr Lownie’s comments underline the importance of optics in an era where public trust in institutions is fragile, symbolism matters.

A smiling appearance abroad, however routine from a career perspective, can be interpreted very differently against a backdrop of scandal.

For Eugenie, who has long attempted to carve out an independent identity through her art world career and charitable work, the challenge is stark. Fairly or not, the shadow cast by her parents’ past associations continues to follow.

Whether her latest outing was simple professionalism or, as critics suggest, a defiant gesture, it is clear that the House of York remains under a microscope – and every move is being judged accordingly.