Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie excluded from Royal Ascot 2026. The Epstein case and the shadow over Andrea continue to influence the image of the York family
Between spectacular hats, royal carriages and one of the most observed rituals of the British monarchy, the Royal Ascot it has always been a symbolic appointment in the royal calendar. This year, however, the 2026 edition – scheduled from 16th to 20th June — will open with an absence that will not go unnoticed: there will be no princesses among the guests Beatrice and Eugenie of York.
According to what was reported by Daily Mailto the two daughters of the former prince Andrew they would have been informed that they will not be able to participate in the event. A choice that comes at a delicate moment for the York family, still marked by the consequences of the scandal linked to the relationships between Andrea and Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision seems to confirm an increasingly evident strategy at Buckingham Palace: to minimize the public exposure of anyone who may be associated with the controversies that have engulfed the Duke of York.
The symbolic weight of Royal Ascot in the British monarchy
To understand why this exclusion is so significant we must look at the role that the Royal Ascot occupies in the life of the monarchy. The event was born in 1711when the queen Anna he decided to found the racecourse which was destined to become the heart of British horse racing.
For over three centuries the event has represented much more than a simple sporting competition. It is one of the moments when the monarchy it shows itself in its most theatrical and ritual dimensionwith the famous carriage procession that officially opens the competition days and with the presence of the royal family which establishes the link between aristocratic tradition and British society.
Royal Ascot is also one of the UK’s biggest social events – a stage watched by the whole world where fashion, protocol and symbols of the monarchy are intertwined. Precisely for this reason the absence of two princesses like Beatrice and Eugenie takes on a meaning that goes beyond the simple management of invitations.
The shadow of the Epstein scandal
The event that overwhelmed the father of the two princesses inevitably weighs behind the decision. The scandals linked to the relationships between Andrea and Epstein continue to cast a long shadow over the York family.
In recent years Buckingham Palace has progressively reduced the public role of the Duke of York, while his daughters have also adopted an increasingly discreet profile. Exclusion from Royal Ascot therefore appears as a further signal of institutional distance.
According to some sources cited by the British press, it would be above all Beatrice to live this period with greater difficulty. The impossibility of participating in one of the most emblematic events of the monarchy represents a clear signal of the new balance within the royal family.
York increasingly distant from the public scene
In recent months the public appearances of the two sisters have been increasingly rare. Beatrice was only seen during one ski holiday in Gstaadin Switzerland, together with her husband Jack Brooksbank and to the children.
A private presence, far from the great official events of the crown. If this line of discretion continues, other traditional moments in real life could also change their face.
And just the Royal Ascot 2026with its carriages and its centuries-old ritual, could become the first event to be told visually the new distance between the British monarchy and the York family.
