Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie 'In a State' Following Father Andrew's Arrest
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are understood to be "in a state" after their father Prince Andrew's dramatic arrest, according to sources. The Duke of York spent his 66th birthday in 11 hours of police custody following an 8am arrest at Sandringham in Norfolk.
Family Turmoil and Mental Health Concerns
Following Andrew's arrest, one of the princesses is thought to have been with their mother Sarah Ferguson. On Thursday, fears were expressed for Ms Ferguson's mental health, with a source close to the Duchess of York telling the Telegraph newspaper that the "curse" of Epstein had struck again.
The source stated: "This is catastrophic for her and the girls. She seems to be doing her best to put a brave face on it. Her desperation for money was clear stupidity but does that equate to what she's going through now?"
Financial and Legal Implications
A well-placed source informed The Telegraph that should Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor be unable to fund his own legal representation, the financial burden "will not fall on the public purse." Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office but has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Political Reactions and Calls for Transparency
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey emphasized the need for more transparency over how the monarchy operates. When asked about Andrew's arrest on BBC Breakfast, he said: "I think we should have in our minds the survivors, the victims of Epstein, who are having to look at all this reporting and possibly reliving their traumas."
Davey continued: "So it is quite a shocking situation. Let the police do their work. I think more broadly, going forward, we do need to see more transparency, and parliament has a really important role to play, and I think we need to help the monarchy get over this – it's a really important part of our country."
Contrasting International Response
This comment stood in stark contrast to US president Donald Trump's reaction, who described Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest as a "shame" and "very sad thing." When asked by reporters for his reaction, Trump stated: "I'm the expert in a way because I've been totally exonerated so I can speak about it... I think it's a shame. I think it's very sad. I think it's so bad for the royal family."
Trump added: "To see that and to see everything that's going on with his brother, who is coming to our country very soon, the king... so I think it's a very sad thing." King Charles is due to visit the US in April, adding another layer of complexity to the royal family's current challenges.
