Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are likely to have sent words of comfort to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, according to a royal correspondent.
Beatrice and Eugenie have been under intense public scrutiny since the latest release of the Epstein files, in which they are both named.
Their parents, Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, had their royal titles stripped over Andrew’s links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Reports had suggested that Meghan and Harry had offered the royal sisters a place to stay outside of the UK. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has disputed these claims: “I’d be surprised if those reports are true.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to have offered 'words of comfort' to Princess Eugenie
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“Harry must know that the press would hunt Beatrice and Eugenie down, and bring unwelcome attention to his fiercely guarded life and young family in California, as well as to themselves.
“It may be that he’s been in contact to offer some words of comfort.
“He has been close to his cousins for much of his life, particularly with Eugenie. Meghan was also friends with Eugenie even before the world knew that Harry and Meghan were dating,” she told the Mirror.
Being named in the Epstein files does not indicate any wrongdoing.
Harry has remained close with Beatrice since he and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.
The 37-year-old is understood to have taken recent events and her parents’ fall from high standing particularly hard.
Prince Harry has maintained a good relationship with Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, since stepping back as a working royal
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Ms Bond continued: “She and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, get on well with the Sussexes, who have stayed with them in Portugal.
“So both Harry and Meghan might well have been in communication with his cousins during this latest crisis.
“Neither Beatrice nor Eugenie really need anywhere to stay.
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“They both have at least two homes, and Eugenie is often out of the country in the relative privacy of her home in Portugal.
“And if the princesses want to steady the boat, they probably shouldn’t exacerbate family tensions by hanging out with Harry,” she concluded.
The York sisters are said to be “bitterly disappointed” after they were “banned” from Royal Ascot.
A source told Daily Mail: “I've spoken to my friend who works at Ascot, and they said the girls have been told they can't be there this year.
The sisters are understood to be 'bitterly disappointed' | PA"Beatrice has taken it the hardest. She's been completely blindsided by all of this."
A separate source explained: "Ascot is out of the question" for the princesses this year.
"The royals have been told they can't be photographed with the girls for the rest of the year," they said.
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