Claims that Princess Eugenie has severed all ties with her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal may not tell the whole story, according to those close to the royal sisters.
Friends of both Eugenie and her elder sister Beatrice have spoken out this week, suggesting that reports of a complete breakdown in the father-daughter relationship are overstated.
The Mail on Sunday had previously reported that the 35-year-old princess was refusing any communication with Andrew and had not visited him during the festive period.
A source had compared the alleged estrangement to the rift between David and Victoria Beckham and their son Brooklyn, describing it as a total severance of contact.
Princess Eugenie's friends reject claims of permanent break from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
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However, those within the princesses' circle maintain that the reality is considerably more complex than these accounts suggest.
What does appear to be accurate is that both Beatrice and Eugenie are steering clear of being photographed alongside Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in public settings.
At the christening of Beatrice's daughter, Athena, at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace last month, Fergie reportedly crouched down in her vehicle to avoid being captured by cameras.
Yet, despite these careful public manoeuvres, a family friend insisted that a permanent split between Eugenie and her father is not on the cards.
Princess Eugenie has never publicly spoken about Andrew's scandals
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"Andrew's main concern is that his daughters are not tainted by his difficulties, so he is keeping his distance from them," the friend told the Mail.
The source added: "Bea and Eug feel very sorry for their parents. They are keeping in touch with them and making sure they're OK."
This suggests the distance is strategic rather than born of genuine familial breakdown.
According to the friend, both Andrew and Fergie are keen for their daughters to continue as working members of the Royal Family.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are known to be very close | INSTAGRAM: PRINCESS EUGENIE
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Sarah Ferguson is the mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie | GETTY"Both Andrew and Sarah want their daughters to remain part of the Royal Family and were happy for them to spend Christmas in Norfolk," the source claimed.
The princesses did indeed celebrate the festive season at the Sandringham estate rather than with their parents, a decision that appears to have had their blessing.
Far from harbouring resentment, Beatrice and Eugenie are said to feel genuine compassion for the predicament their mother and father find themselves in.
The sisters are understood to be maintaining regular contact with both parents, checking in to ensure they are coping with their circumstances.
This paints a picture of a family navigating difficult waters together, albeit with careful attention to public perception.