Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson has always maintained a close relationship with her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
But royal experts are questioning whether the latest scandals surrounding Ferguson and her ex-husband, the former prince Andrew, have caused an irreparable rift between the mother and her princess daughters.
Ferguson was married to the princesses’ father, former Prince Andrew, for nearly 10 years.
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Although they divorced in 1996, the former couple continued to live together until King Charles removed both Andrew and Ferguson from Royal Lodge in October last year.
The eviction came alongside the decision to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of all his titles, including prince and duke.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have retained their titles, despite their father’s scandals. Credit: Getty
The disgraced royal’s alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have continued to haunt the British royal family, with Andrew’s February arrest for alleged misconduct in public office sending further shock waves through the family.
Despite their father’s lifetime of indiscretions, Beatrice, 39, and Eugenie, 36, have retained their royal titles and appear to have the support of their uncle, King Charles.
But where does that leave their relationships with their parents?
It is difficult to know whether the sisters still stand by their father. Neither has publicly commented on Andrew, and they would most likely be discouraged from doing so.
Sarah and Andrew with their daughters in 1997. Credit: AP
However, royal commentators have observed what appears to be a shift in their relationship with their mother.
One of the clearest signs is Ferguson’s recent silence on social media.
The 66-year-old regularly shares posts about her daughters and grandchildren, celebrating their achievements and marking their birthdays.
Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, announced the arrival of Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank on August 3.
The couple, who split their time between Lisbon and London due to Jack’s work in property development, are already parents to two boys, August, 5, and Ernest, 3.
The wider royal family also shared the happy news on its official account.
Princess Eugenie shared a sweet series of photos of her baby daughter to mark four weeks since the birth of her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank. Credit: Instagram, GettyFergie shared this post in January 2025 to celebrate the birth of Beatrice’s daughter, however, she has not posted about Eugenie’s baby girl. Credit: Instagram
Ferguson, a famously proud and hands-on grandmother, has yet to publicly acknowledge the new addition to the family.
The former duchess’ absence is particularly notable given her close relationship with both daughters — the trio call themselves The Tripod.
Beatrice, who is married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, is also a mother to Sienna, 4, and Athena, 1, as well as her stepson Christopher Woolf.
Ferguson’s whereabouts are currently unclear. She has largely kept a low profile since her eviction from Royal Lodge.
But royal expert Angela Mollard believes there could be more to Ferguson’s silence.
Sarah Ferguson’s absence is particularly notable given her close relationship with both daughters — the trio call themselves The Tripod. Credit: AP
“The challenge for Beatrice and Eugenie is not only their parents grasping natures and poor judgement,” Mollard told 7NEWS.com.au.
“But the fact Fergie, particularly, drew them into the relationship with Epstein before they were old enough to understand the ramifications.
“As parents themselves they now understand that the primary role of a parent is to protect their child but Fergie, as evidenced by correspondence in the Epstein files, has embroiled them in the tawdry mess.
“And yet they have always been supportive of their mother through her many mishaps.
“The challenge now is that they will be judging whether to retain the close mother/daughter relationships or risk being brought down by their loyalty.”
According to CNN, the sisters were named hundreds of times in the so-called Epstein files published by the US Department of Justice.
In February, CNN reported the files also reveal the apparent depth of the late sex offender’s friendship with Ferguson, who appears to have brought her daughters into his world.
Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, in February 2000. Credit: Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty
While their relationship with their parents may be under strain, their position within the royal family appears considerably more secure.
King Charles chose to allow Beatrice and Eugenie to retain their titles and royal status, and they continue to be invited to royal events.
It is understood the king shares a supportive and protective relationship with his nieces, even as he attempts to distance the wider royal family from the scandals surrounding their parents.
According to Mollard, Eugenie in particular may be carefully navigating those competing loyalties.
“Eugenie seems to be aligning herself with the king, knowing her social standing is dependent on being ‘in’ the royal family not out of it,” she said.
“Just as she is private about her friendship with Harry and Meghan, she needs to be circumspect about broadcasting her mother’s continuing presence in her life.
“This is obviously more tricky after having a baby, a time that naturally brings families together.”
