Princess Eugenie celebrates her birthday as clouds hang over York family

Princess Eugenie is celebrating her 36th birthday today with a cloud hanging over the King’s niece and her immediate family.

The Princess of York is currently navigating a period of significant personal and public turmoil, primarily due to the ongoing fallout from scandals involving her parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.

Reports indicate that Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, are being increasingly distanced from official royal life as a result.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February 2026 in connection with an investigation into his past role as a UK trade envoy and ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

He was released that evening on investigation and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Over the weekend, a spokeswoman from Thames Valley Police told GB News: “We are aware of ongoing speculation into other offences Thames Valley Police may be investigating following the arrest on 19 February of a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

“Whilst we maintain an open mind, our investigation currently remains focused on the allegation of misconduct in public office.”

Amid the royal scandal, Eugenie and Beatrice are thought to have been “banned” from major upcoming events like Royal Ascot 2026 to protect the reputation of the monarchy.

Princess Eugenie celebrates birthday amid hanging cloud for Andrew’s youngest daughter

In addition, due to public scrutiny, Eugenie recently stepped down from her long-standing role as patron of Anti-Slavery International, a charity she supported for seven years.

It comes as her own personal charity, the Anti-Slavery Collective, is being assessed by the UK Charity Commission.

On March 5, a spokeswoman told GB News: “We are assessing concerns raised in the media about charitable spending at The Anti-Slavery Collective to determine what role there is, if any, for the Commission.”

Princess Eugenie is also currently dealing with her mother’s fall from grace, as Ms Ferguson faces mounting pressure to testify before the US House Oversight Committee following the release of documents from the Epstein Files.

Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office | REUTERS

In March 2011, Ms Ferguson admitted her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, who had been jailed three years earlier for soliciting prostitution from a minor, had been a “gigantic error of judgment”.

However, on April 26, weeks after she gave the interview with the Evening Standard, leaked emails published by the Mail in September 2025 purported to show that Ms Ferguson wrote to Epstein: “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me from what you were either told or read and I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that.”

In September 2025, Ms Ferguson’s spokesman clarified: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are known to be very close | INSTAGRAM: PRINCESS EUGENIE

“Like many people, she was taken in by [Epstein’s] lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.

“She does not resile from anything she said then. This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”

With Eugenie’s 36th birthday today, it remains to be seen if Ms Ferguson or her brother-in-law, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, both of whom have public Instagram profiles, will wish Eugenie a happy birthday.