Amid the controversy surrounding Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to a convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteintheir two daughters have also come under intensive surveillance.
But while Princess Beatrice still putting on a brave face in Britain, her sister Eugenie has fled more than 1,000 miles away to the port of the Iberian Peninsula.
A world away from the scandal engulfing her family in Britain, Eugenie, 36, and her husband Jack Brooksbank40, are forging a new life in a £3.6 million luxury oceanfront villa near the idyllic village of Meides.
Amid an incredibly challenging year, the princess still has reason to celebrate after welcoming her daughter’s safe arrival Adelaide on August 3, born in Lisbon.
While Eugenie hates her father’s behavior and ‘keeps her distance’, Beatrice is known as more of a ‘daddy’s girl’ and has remained in Britain since the Epstein scandal engulfed the House of York.
In stark contrast to the shared images of Eugenie beaming with her newborn, Beatrice cut a rather lonely figure last month while attending the funeral of Paddy McNally – her mother’s colorful millionaire ex-boyfriend.
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwillams, Eugenie’s departure from Britain has helped ‘change’ public perception of her – while also making the princess appear ‘freer’ compared to her sister.
Mr Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail: ‘Beatrice and Eugenie have been through an extremely difficult time, with their parents facing public disgrace. Yet there has been a change in Eugenie’s perception.
While Princess Beatrice continues to act brave in Britain, her sister Eugenie has fled more than 1,000 miles away to the sunny oasis of the Iberian Peninsula.
In the midst of an incredibly challenging year, Eugenie also has reason to celebrate, welcoming the safe arrival of her daughter Adelaide, who was born in Lisbon, on August 3.
While Eugenie is disgusted by her father’s behavior and ‘keeps her distance’, Beatrice is known as more of a ‘daddy’s girl’ and has remained in Britain.
‘A happy occasion, Adelaide’s birth and the beautiful photos Eugenie shared with us all remind us of the very human plight of those in the public eye with parents who have disgraced themselves.’
In August, Eugenie revealed her baby’s name as Adelaide Elizabeth Brooksbank, in a sweet tribute to her beloved grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Eugenie said her daughter’s name was inspired by people she and her husband “love and admire, past and present” – and accompanied the announcement with a photo of the sleeping newborn.
Adelaide, who will not be HRH, will be born 15th in line to the throne, while her great-uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, moves up to 16th.
However, the Brooksbanks’ decision to welcome their daughter 1,000 miles away on the Iberian Peninsula underlines how entrenched the couple have become in the country.
Mr Fitzwilliams added: “The fact that Adelaide was born in Portugal, Britain’s oldest ally, and named after a Portuguese princess and an English queen, is new.
‘The fact that she was born abroad and that Eugenie, who works remotely, and Jack split their time between Britain and Portugal also helps them distance themselves from the fallout of the scandals that have hit the Yorks.
‘Eugenie reportedly keeps her distance from her errant father; at the very least publicly ignoring him on Father’s Day is an example of that.”
Andrew is said to have only found out she was pregnant through his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, with whom Eugenie keeps in touch.
According to the royal expert, Beatrice “appreciates the need for a visible distance between her and her father, but is still considered the one closest to him.”
He added: “Beatrice is the older sister. It was not initially realized that she had played a crucial role in advising her father about the catastrophically imbecilic Newsnight interview. After it has been dramatized, it is now common knowledge.”
In stark contrast to the shared images of Eugenie beaming with her newborn, Beatrice cut a rather lonely figure while attending Paddy McNally’s funeral last month
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwillams, Eugenie’s departure from Britain has helped ‘change’ the public’s perception of her and makes the princess seem ‘freer’
The fact that Adelaide was born abroad and that Eugenie and Jack “split their time between Britain and Portugal also helps them distance themselves from the fallout,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.
In contrast, locals in Portugal are said to have previously heard whispers that Sarah – who has not been seen in public for some time – has been visiting to help care for her fifth grandchild.
Staff at nearby O Fadista restaurant, which the Daily Mail previously visited, said Eugenie, Jack and Sarah are regulars in the pretty whitewashed building on the main street, Rua Nova, which serves generous pots of seafood rice.
A waiter said: ‘Eugenie and her husband are regulars and have been here a few times with friends. Their mothers have also been here several times, but I have never seen the father, Andrew.
‘Now that Eugenie has had a baby, there are rumors that Sarah is back in Melides to help her with the new little one.’
The news that Sarah could help Eugenie with her childcare comes after the release of three million pages of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice in February, which exposed the former duchess’s relationship with the sex offender.
Mr Fitzwilliams acknowledged that the series of released documents had made this a ‘stressful and phenomenally difficult period for Eugenie and Jack’.
He added: ‘Jack’s luxury brand, as we understand, has not been affected by his in-laws’ shaming as he has reportedly imposed strict limits on contact with them. Their marriage is also strong.
‘We know that Eugenie was the closest member of the Royal Family to the Sussexes.
‘Reports indicate that is no longer the case and it is even said they are no longer in contact, which would be interpreted as a welcome sign of support from the beleaguered royal family.’
Andrew has been engulfed by the scandal surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while their mother Sarah Ferguson has herself fallen from grace.
Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office when police attended Wood Farm in Sandringham, Norfolk, where he had been living for the past two weeks.
The former prince spent 11 hours in custody as officers searched his Sandringham property before being released under investigation.
Fergie’s emails to the pedophile financier revealed that she had taken Eugenie and Beatrice to meet Epstein days after his release from prison for child prostitution.
Other messages from Fergie to Epstein even touched on Eugenie’s sex life, stating that the princess had been on a “s****ing weekend” at the age of 19.
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