Princess Eugenie Steps Down from Charity Amidst Father’s Ongoing Investigation
Princess Eugenie has recently stepped back from her role as a patron of Anti-Slavery International, a prominent human rights organisation. This decision marks the end of a seven-year commitment to the charity, which holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest human rights organisation, established in 1839. While neither the Princess nor the charity has provided an explicit reason for the departure, the move occurs against the backdrop of a continuing police investigation into her father, Prince Andrew.
The timing of Princess Eugenie’s withdrawal from Anti-Slavery International has drawn significant attention, particularly following reports published by The Mail on Sunday. These reports detailed extracts of emails that allegedly indicate Prince Andrew, formerly known as the Duke of York, attempting to arrange payments of £50,000 for each of his daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, from billionaire Jonathan Rowland back in 2011. At the time, Prince Andrew was serving as a UK trade envoy. Independent verification of these emails has not been conducted.
Prince Andrew’s Legal Troubles and Their Ripple Effect
The ongoing police investigation into Prince Andrew stems from accusations of misconduct in a public office. Thames Valley Police arrested him on February 19th, following claims that he leaked confidential trade envoy reports to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was subsequently released pending further investigation.
In a separate, high-profile civil lawsuit filed in New York, Virginia Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. Ms. Giuffre alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein from the age of 17 for sexual encounters with Prince Andrew. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, with Prince Andrew at the time denying any liability.
While neither Princess Beatrice nor Princess Eugenie has been directly linked to these allegations, the princesses have faced increasing scrutiny regarding their awareness of their father’s and mother, Sarah Ferguson’s, association with Jeffrey Epstein. Princess Eugenie’s decision to step down from Anti-Slavery International is seen by many as the most tangible indication yet that the scandal surrounding her father is beginning to impact her own public standing and reputation.
Princess Eugenie’s Charity Work and New Scrutiny
Princess Eugenie’s departure from Anti-Slavery International was confirmed on a Sunday. In a statement to The Observer, the charity conveyed: “After seven years, our patronage from HRH Princess Eugenie of York has come to an end. We thank the Princess very much for her support for Anti-Slavery International and hope that she continues to work to end slavery for good.”
Princess Eugenie became a patron of Anti-Slavery International in October 2019 and was a prominent royal advocate for the organisation, often speaking out against modern slavery and human trafficking. Her profile has since been removed from the charity’s official website.
It is important to note that there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on Princess Eugenie’s part. Neither she nor Buckingham Palace has issued a public statement regarding her decision. However, the timing is widely considered to be connected to the heightened scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s affairs, particularly after the release of numerous documents pertaining to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his subsequent arrest in February.
Princess Eugenie also spearheads her own charitable initiative, The Anti-Slavery Collective, which she co-founded with her friend Julia de Boinville in 2017. This organisation has also recently come under review. Reports indicated that the expenditure on salaries within The Anti-Slavery Collective significantly exceeded the funds allocated to charitable programmes. The UK’s Charity Commission has been assessing whether regulatory intervention is necessary. In parallel, Princess Eugenie continues her role as a director at the renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Allegations of Financial Dealings and Royal Daughters
The recently surfaced emails, which have not been independently verified, were highlighted by The Mail on Sunday. These communications allegedly suggest Prince Andrew was discussing substantial financial arrangements for his daughters while he held the position of Britain’s Special Representative for International Trade.
The content of the emails purportedly indicates Prince Andrew’s efforts to secure £50,000 for Princess Beatrice and an equivalent £50,000 (approximately $65,000 USD each) for Princess Eugenie from a friend. These proposed payments were part of a larger financial package reportedly valued at £300,000.
Prince Andrew was known to be acquainted with billionaire David Rowland. The correspondence concerning the coordination of these payments appears to have been handled by David Rowland’s son, Jonathan Rowland, who was the chief executive of Banque Havilland at the time. Jonathan Rowland was also involved with an investment company named Jellybook.
Quoted in The Mail on Sunday, Prince Andrew allegedly wrote to Jonathan Rowland in June 2011: “I have explained to Amanda [Thirsk, Andrew’s aide] what was intended. That is 50 [thousand] each to the girls. 25 for Jellybook each. 50 for me. The remainder of the £300, £150 plus an additional £100k to be transferred to Drummonds. All this to be done once receipt of the £300 happens.”
According to The Mail, Jonathan Rowland’s reply was: “Just so I am clear. You have Euro 650k (£575k) in the Bank. 50k each to the girls. Jelly I am clear on although the girls accounts might not be in place so you can do £100k and we work it out later.”
Further adding to the context, The Daily Telegraph had previously reported that Prince Andrew shared government briefing documents with Jonathan Rowland back in 2010. Inquiries were made to Jonathan Rowland for comment via Redwood Bank, where he is a co-founder.
There has been no definitive confirmation regarding whether these payments were indeed made to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. The emails themselves do not provide a complete picture of the context surrounding these discussions. The Mail reported that the princesses themselves have no recollection of such payments being received.
Karl Turner, a Labour Party Member of Parliament, expressed his concerns to The Mail, stating: “This latest revelation is worrying. It is known that Mountbatten-Windsor had an association with the Rowlands and this friendship existed at the time when he was a trade envoy for the UK. Questions are bound to be asked if that association helped to further enrich his kids. We must surely see an inquiry into whether the payments for the princesses were made in return for the disgraced former prince’s help in pushing the Rowlands’ commercial interests.”
Harriet Baldwin, a shadow business minister, echoed these sentiments, commenting: “We must get to the bottom of these allegations at once. If true, this would be a clear example of him being unable to distinguish between private affairs and his public role.”
The Road Ahead: Ongoing Investigations
The police investigation into Prince Andrew’s conduct is ongoing. A decision on whether he will face any charges has not yet been made. The unfolding situation continues to attract significant public and media attention.
