Princess Beatrice is reportedly "absolutely devastated" over new allegations involving her father, Prince Andrew, after emails surfaced contradicting his past statements about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The emails, which were released in the United States, appear to show the Duke of York in communication with Epstein in 2011, despite his previous claims that their last encounter was in December 2010.
Emails obtained by the Financial Conduct Authority include a message allegedly sent by Andrew to Epstein stating, "Keep in close touch, and we'll play some more soon!!!!" The correspondence raises further questions about Andrew's denials in his widely criticized 2019 Newsnight interview, where he told journalist Emily Maitlis, "By mutual agreement, during that walk in the park, we decided that we would part company, and I left, I think it was the next day. And to this day, I never had any contact with him from that day forward."
Sources close to Beatrice indicate that she is privately struggling with the renewed scandal. "Beatrice is [privately] absolutely devastated. The situation has brought her and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her husband, closer than ever before," a source told Woman's Day magazine. Beatrice, who recently gave birth to her second daughter, Athena, in January, has reportedly been focusing on her family amid the ongoing controversy.
Her husband, Mozzi, has played a significant role in providing support, with sources describing him as a "buffer zone" shielding Beatrice from the media storm surrounding her father. While Beatrice has not commented publicly on the matter, she is said to be prioritizing the well-being of her two daughters, Sienna and Athena.
Meanwhile, concerns over Andrew's associations extend beyond Epstein. Reports have surfaced regarding his links to Yang Tengbo, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, who was described as a "close confidant." Tengbo allegedly attended Andrew's birthday celebration in 2020 and supported him during prior controversies. Royal expert Andrew Lownie warned that the unfolding Chinese espionage allegations could have severe implications.
"It's probably the most damaging of Andrew's scandals. These stories haven't really been investigated. It's going to have to lead to greater transparency about royal finances," Lownie told RadarOnline.com. He added, "This has unlocked a whole series of events that I think are going to be very damaging to the monarchy. When those stories come out, I think he's going to be complete toast. The danger is that he's going to bring the royal family down with him."
The controversy surrounding Prince Andrew has already resulted in lasting consequences for his royal status. Following a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre in 2021, in which she accused the prince of sexually abusing her as a teenager under Epstein's direction, Andrew settled the case for a reported $1 million without admitting wrongdoing. Giuffre's allegations detailed encounters with Andrew facilitated by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including an incident in a London nightclub in 2011. While Andrew has repeatedly denied the claims, the scandal led to his removal from official royal duties and the loss of his military titles and patronages.
The royal family has yet to publicly address the latest revelations, but sources suggest that tensions remain high within Buckingham Palace. Beatrice's mother, Sarah Ferguson, has continued to stand by Andrew despite the mounting controversies. Following Athena's birth, Ferguson expressed her joy on social media, writing, "She is already so adored and I'm incredibly blessed to be a granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice, and the rest of my little 5-a-side team."
While Beatrice has not taken a definitive stance on distancing herself from her father, sources close to her indicate she is carefully navigating the situation. "She's going to do whatever it takes to keep her two girls safe. And if that means keeping them from her father so they don't have to grow up with his sins on their shoulders, then she's willing to do it," a source told Woman's Day.
