Royal insiders have claimed that neither Princess Beatrice nor Princess Eugenie received advance warning about their father's decision to relinquish his royal titles on 17 October.
Sources close to the family indicate Prince Andrew failed to inform his daughters, aged 37 and 35 respectively, before he was "bounced into agreeing a statement" that would see him surrender the honours bestowed by his late mother.
The lack of consultation left both princesses completely unprepared for the public announcement that emerged last week.
This failure to communicate such a momentous decision marks a significant departure from the family's previously close relationship, with neither daughter given the opportunity to discuss or prepare for the implications of their father's dramatic move.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie 'blindsided' by Prince Andrew announcement
|INSTAGRAM / PRINCESS EUGENIE
A tense family gathering unfolded at Royal Lodge in Windsor on October 20, where Princess Beatrice met with her parents to discuss the fallout from the announcement.
The meeting proved particularly distressing for Sarah Ferguson, who reportedly experienced what one insider described to the Mail as a "meltdown" upon learning she would forfeit her Duchess title.
The former wife of Prince Andrew had apparently been "wailing that he shouldn't do it", according to sources, deeply upset about losing the title she had carried since 1986.
For nearly four decades, the Duchess designation had provided significant financial opportunities for Fergie, making its loss all the more devastating.
Prince Andrew is currently in talks with King Charles over vacting Royal Lodge | GETTYThe emotional scenes at the Windsor residence highlighted the personal cost of Prince Andrew's decision on his immediate family members.
The Windsor estate meeting proved so difficult that Princess Eugenie chose not to participate at all, whilst her elder sister emerged from the property looking visibly shaken.
Witnesses observed Princess Beatrice departing in her Range Rover with an anxious expression and dishevelled appearance, her hair pulled back hastily.
A royal insider characterised the gathering as an unhappy affair, stating: "The Royal Lodge 'summit' wasn't a happy occasion and the family, once a strong unit, is fractured."
Beatrice was spotted driving into Royal Lodge on Monday
| GettyThe previous day, onlookers at a London playground noticed Princess Beatrice appearing "poleaxed" whilst supervising her young children.
One witness told the publication: "She was on the phone saying she couldn't bring herself to look at the Sunday papers. She looked absolutely devastated."
The visible distress of both sisters underscores the profound impact of their father's decision on the York family dynamics.
The York sisters have sought solace with their respective families as they navigate this difficult period, according to royal sources.
Princess Eugenie skipped the family summit
| INSTAGRAM / PRINCESS EUGENIEPrincess Beatrice resides with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a 41-year-old property developer, at their £3.5 million Cotswolds farmhouse, whilst also maintaining accommodation at St James's Palace.
The couple share daughters Sienna, four, and nine-month-old Athena, alongside Beatrice's nine-year-old stepson Wolfie.
Princess Eugenie and her spouse Jack Brooksbank, 39, a marketing executive formerly associated with George Clooney's tequila brand Casamigos, split their time between Portugal and Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace with sons August, four, and Ernest, two.
"They are both finding comfort in their husbands who come from families which are stable and loving," a royal insider noted.
Following their father's unexpected declaration on Saturday, both princesses withdrew from a scheduled appearance at the British Museum's inaugural Pink Ball.