Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are "not abandoning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor", a royal source has claimed.
The York sisters are facing an unprecedented family crisis after being drawn into the scandal surrounding their parents' relationship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The once tight-knit York family unit is now under severe strain, with sources claiming that the revelations are taking a heavy toll on the sisters.
However, they stressed that Eugenie, 35, and Beatrice, 37, will not abandon their father, who was invited to his granddaughter, Athena's, christening in December.
Beatrice and Eugenie 'won't turn backs on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor' despite 'family strain'
|GETTY
A friend of the sisters told Hello!: "The sisters are not abandoning their father. They aren't turning their backs on him. But everything is obviously very strained and hard."
The friend also described their feelings towards their mother, Sarah Ferguson, who has also been drawn into scandal with the Epstein files.
The source explained: "The girls have been very sympathetic to her, but that might start to unravel. You have to wonder if they will ever be seen in public with her again."
Fresh details emerged last week from the Epstein files, revealing that the disgraced financier funded flights for Ms Ferguson and her daughters to visit him at his Palm Beach mansion in 2009.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are known to be very close | INSTAGRAM: PRINCESS EUGENIEThe trip took place just days after Epstein's release from prison, when Beatrice and Eugenie were aged 19 and 20, respectively.
The leaked correspondence also contained deeply uncomfortable exchanges between the former duchess and Epstein.
In the messages, Ms Ferguson described him as "the brother I have always wished for" and wrote "just marry me" to the convicted sex offender. She also made a crude remark about Eugenie's romantic life.
Royal author Robert Jobson, who knows the family, told the publication: "They [Beatrice and Eugenie] must be overwhelmed and aghast by this. What was she [Sarah Ferguson] thinking?
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's downfall has sparked a new era of royal scrutiny
| GETTY"Taking her daughters - the late Queen's granddaughters - to meet this vile convicted criminal? It really beggars belief."
The princesses' decision to spend Christmas with the King rather than their parents speaks volumes about the fractured relationships.
Despite the sisters' humiliation, a family friend has denied reports suggesting Eugenie, who co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective, has severed ties with her father.
Beatrice was spotted riding at Windsor with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and her four-year-old daughter, Sienna, in recent days.
The 65-year-old, who was stripped of his titles by the King in October, vacated Royal Lodge last week following the release of photographs showing him inside Epstein's New York residence.
Sarah Ferguson has been dropped by several charities where she served as patron following the Epstein scandal
| GETTYHis departure from the 30-room Windsor estate property came amid allegations from a woman claiming Epstein had trafficked her.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has relocated to a modest cottage on the Sandringham estate.
Ms Ferguson has retreated to an overseas spa to contemplate her future and living arrangements, sources have claimed.
Mr Jobson continued: "She is in a bad way and feeling very guilty. The last time I was in touch with her, she was worried about her mental health and mulling over the 'what ifs'."
The author added: "Their decision to spend Christmas with the King, instead of with their parents, speaks volumes. It might be hard to rebuild what they had. It's sad for them, but the real tragedy is for the victims."