The past few years have been turbulent for the York family. Now only Beatrice and Eugenie can use the title, while Prince Andrew negotiates with Buckingham Palace about leaving Royal Lodge, the mansion where he has lived with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson for 22 years. The media closely monitors any move from the grand Windsor residence, prompting the York princesses to maintain their distance.
© Getty ImagesPrincess Beatrice has traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew is an investment analyst and vice president at Afiniti, a multinational company specializing in artificial intelligence. In recent years, she has strengthened her ties with the Arab world through international initiatives focused on sustainability and technology. In 2025, she was named co-chair of a climate solutions program alongside Queen Rania of Jordan under the World Economic Forum and has attended key events such as the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein, establishing herself as an active figure in diplomacy and global cooperation.
© Getty ImagesWhat took her sister Eugenie out of the country, on the other hand, was a trip to Paris with two close friends, where she was seen posing by the Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background. It was a getaway that may have helped her disconnect from the media frenzy surrounding her family and the institutional crisis sparked by her father’s decision to stop using his titles. Many voices, including some in Parliament, are calling for a further step that would mean the formal removal of the Duke of York title, which would require a legislative process.
So far, the only step Andrew has taken since announcing he would stop using his titles is beginning negotiations over leaving Royal Lodge. King Charles III had long been trying to persuade him to move to a smaller, more modest residence that better reflects his current role in the royal family. However, his brother has stood firm, citing the lease agreement that secures his tenancy until 2078. That same contract also sets a symbolic rent known as a “peppercorn,” typically equal to one British pound. It is legal, but it has fueled the scandal around him and given more weight to those pushing for his titles to be revoked.
© Getty ImagesIn light of the current circumstances, Prince Andrew has finally consented to negotiations, despite the absence of any visible alterations at Royal Lodge. He must find another place to live before departing, not only for Sarah Ferguson but also for himself. The former couple, who have lived together for decades despite their divorce, are reportedly asking for two homes, one for each of them, in exchange for giving up the Windsor mansion.
Their daughters for now are staying completely out of the issue, and the Crown seems willing to continue protecting them. However, BBC journalist Emily Maitlis recently revealed on the podcast The News Agents that Prince William may have pressured them during a meeting to convince their father to leave Royal Lodge, allegedly warning that their own titles could be reconsidered if he refused.
© Dave Benett/Getty Images for SER
