King Charles 'extends olive branch to Beatrice and Eugenie' as Royal Ascot looms

The monarch's gesture comes despite the ongoing fallout from their parents' connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this month, speculation mounted that the York sisters faced exclusion from the June gathering, with one source claiming to the Mail that "the girls have been told they can't be there this year."

Their potential appearance at the five-day Berkshire event would represent a significant display of royal solidarity.

Both princesses retain their HRH titles despite their parents' fall from grace, with sources close to the King confirming he remains fond of his nieces.

The sisters could feature in the official carriage procession and Royal Enclosure during the meeting, potentially accompanied by their respective husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank.

One insider told The Sun: "All the signs are they're not being judged on the sins of the parents."

GB News has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Their future attendance at royal gatherings is understood to be secure, with the York sisters having joined the King and Queen at Sandringham for Christmas last year alongside their spouses.

Reports had previously suggested that Prince William counselled fellow royals to avoid being photographed alongside Beatrice and Eugenie for the remainder of the year.

Beatrice, 37, was said to have found the situation particularly difficult, with a source telling the Mail she had been "completely blindsided by all of this."

Both Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson have faced social ostracism following revelations in the Epstein files, though they have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

While the princesses are mentioned multiple times in the documents, this does not suggest any misconduct on their part.

On Monday, it was confirmed that the York sisters would not attend the traditional Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel this weekend, having arranged alternative celebrations with their families.

King Charles is backing his nieces' decision to spend the holiday away from Windsor, where the first major royal gathering since the damaging Epstein revelations will take place.

It is expected that the Prince and Princess of Wales will accompany King Charles and Queen Camilla to the Easter Matins Service.

Eugenie is expected to mark the Christian celebration with her husband and their sons, August and Ernest, while Beatrice will likely be with Mr Mapelli Mozzi and their daughters, Sienna and Athena.

Their parents will also be absent from the Windsor service.