Few royal stories spark as much debate as the fate of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. As their father Prince Andrew’s reputation collapsed, many wondered whether the sisters would lose their titles, their security, or their place in the line of succession. Here’s what’s actually happening to the York princesses in 2025.
Princesses retaining titles: Confirmed by Palace, October 2025 · Prince Andrew’s titles stripped: 2025, following public pressure · Eviction from Royal Lodge: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ordered to vacate by December 2025 · Line of succession: Beatrice 10th, Eugenie 12th (as of 2026) · Royal protection status: Privately funded since 2023
Quick snapshot
- Princess Beatrice retains HRH Princess title (The Royal Family official website)
- Princess Eugenie retains HRH Princess title (The Royal Family official website)
- Not working royals; no public duties (The Royal Family official website)
- Beatrice: St. James’s Palace
- Eugenie: Ivy Cottage, Kensington Palace
- Parents: Royal Lodge (eviction pending)
- Government-funded security removed 2023 (UK Government guidance)
- Private security arrangements in place (UK Government guidance)
- No automatic police detail (UK Government guidance)
- No public funds via Sovereign Grant
- Private income from jobs and family trust
- Prince Andrew’s private income may assist
Seven key facts, one pattern: Beatrice and Eugenie remain princesses by birthright while their parents face a very different fate.
The contrast is sharp: the sisters’ titles are legally secure, while their father has been stripped of his.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full title (Beatrice) | Princess Beatrice of York, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi |
| Full title (Eugenie) | Princess Eugenie of York, Mrs Jack Brooksbank |
| Father’s latest status | Prince Andrew stripped of titles in 2025, no longer HRH (Royal Family website) |
| Mother’s residence status | Sarah Ferguson ordered to vacate Royal Lodge by late 2025 (BBC News) |
| Line of succession (Beatrice) | 10th in line as of 2026 |
| Line of succession (Eugenie) | 12th in line as of 2026 |
| Royal protection status | Privately funded since 2023 (UK Government) |
What is happening with Princess Beatrice and Eugenie?
Retention of royal titles confirmed by Palace
- The Palace confirmed in October 2025 that both princesses retain their HRH styles and titles. According to the official Royal Family website, they remain princesses because they are granddaughters of a sovereign through the male line under the Letters Patent framework.
- Prince Andrew’s removal of titles in 2025 does not affect his daughters. BBC News (BBC News, 2025) reported that the stripping was a personal sanction, not a change to the rules of inheritance.
Financial independence from the Crown
- Neither Beatrice nor Eugenie receives public funding for official duties, as they are not working royals (Royal Family website). Their income comes from private employment and family trusts.
- The question of whether they could be financially supported by their father’s private income remains unconfirmed.
The implication: the sisters are being quietly separated from Andrew’s legacy without any formal break—financially independent, but still royal on paper.
By keeping their titles but stepping back from public funding, Beatrice and Eugenie avoid direct association with the scandals enveloping their father while preserving the status that comes with birth. For the monarchy, this means a softer decoupling than a full renunciation.
Are Eugenie and Beatrice still princesses?
Birthright titles cannot be removed
- Under the 1917 Letters Patent, children of a sovereign’s sons are entitled to princely styles (Royal Family website). This is a legal birthright, not a grant that can be revoked without an act of Parliament or a new Letters Patent.
- No official public announcement has stated that Beatrice or Eugenie will lose their titles in 2025 (BBC News).
Difference between working and non-working royals
- The sisters are classified as non-working royals. They do not undertake official engagements on behalf of the Crown. According to the Royal Family website, they are in the same category as Princess Anne’s children—royal by birth but not part of the “slimmed-down” working monarchy.
- Media speculation that a future monarch could restrict titles to active royals only is an editorial opinion, not established policy. A YouTube interview with royal biographer Andrew Lownie floated this idea, but it has no legal force.
The catch: title retention is legally solid, but politically precarious. If public pressure grows, the King could—in theory—issue new Letters Patent. So far, he hasn’t.
The legal framework is clear: Beatrice and Eugenie are princesses for life unless a specific act changes the rules. For the monarchy, removing their titles would require a political decision that King Charles III has shown no inclination to make.
Will Sarah Ferguson move to Sandringham?
Eviction notice from Royal Lodge
- In 2025, negotiations over Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson leaving Royal Lodge intensified. BBC News reported discussions about financial compensation for vacating the Crown Estate property.
- The Crown Estate (The Crown Estate) oversees Royal Lodge as a Crown Estate asset, meaning the property is not personally owned by the Yorks.
Potential alternative residences
- Sandringham has been offered as a possible new home for Sarah Ferguson, but according to press reports cited by Andrew Lownie, the offer is not yet confirmed. Ferguson has stated she has “nowhere to live” after moving out of the Windsor mansion.
- The eviction deadline is set for December 2025, leaving the Yorks little time to secure alternative arrangements.
The pattern: the Crown is asserting control over its properties, but the human cost—a 65-year-old duchess with limited options—is real. For Sarah Ferguson, the outcome depends on whether a grace-and-favour deal can be reached.
If no alternative is agreed, Ferguson faces a highly publicized departure from the only home she has shared with Andrew for two decades. The palace is unlikely to let her become homeless, but the terms of any new arrangement remain unclear.
Where do Princess Eugenie and Beatrice live?
Beatrice’s residence in St. James’s Palace apartment
- Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and their children live in a grace-and-favour apartment at St. James’s Palace. The property is privately maintained and not subject to the eviction orders affecting her parents.
Eugenie’s home in Ivy Cottage, Kensington Palace
- Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank reside at Ivy Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate. Like Beatrice, she occupies a grace-and-favour apartment that is not part of the Royal Lodge controversy (Royal Family website).
The pattern: both sisters live in accommodations that are separate from their father’s. Their homes are not threatened by the ongoing eviction, reinforcing their independence from the York patriarch’s financial troubles.
For Beatrice and Eugenie, their homes are secure. For the public, this underscores that the “Andrew problem” is being contained to his own household, leaving his daughters’ domestic lives untouched.
Do Princess Beatrice and Eugenie have royal protection?
Publicly funded security ended in 2023
- In 2023, the government withdrew police protection for Beatrice and Eugenie. According to UK Government guidance, security for members of the royal family is treated as a policing matter, not a household expense, and decisions are reviewed case-by-case.
- No official statement has confirmed that the security loss is directly linked to Andrew’s title issues (BBC News).
Privately funded security arrangements
- The princesses now rely on private security paid for by the family. The exact details of these contracts are not public (BBC News).
- Without automatic police protection, they must assess risk and arrange cover themselves—a significant change for young mothers with children.
The implication: the security downgrade is part of a broader trend toward a smaller, less publicly funded monarchy. For Beatrice and Eugenie, it means a quieter but more private existence—one where they must foot the bill for their own safety.
Timeline: The York family’s changing fortunes
- November 2019: Prince Andrew steps back from public duties following the Epstein scandal (BBC News).
- January 2022: Palace strips Andrew of all military affiliations and HRH style (Royal Family website).
- 2023: Government withdraws police protection for Beatrice and Eugenie (UK Government).
- October 2025: Palace confirms Beatrice and Eugenie will keep titles; parents evicted from Royal Lodge (BBC News).
- Late 2025: Eviction deadline for Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from Royal Lodge.
Clarity: What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Beatrice and Eugenie retain Princess titles as of October 2025 (Royal Family website).
- Prince Andrew lost HRH style and titles in 2022 (Royal Family website).
- Sarah Ferguson and Andrew must vacate Royal Lodge (BBC News).
- Beatrice and Eugenie do not receive public funding for duties (Royal Family website).
- The sisters live in separate grace-and-favour apartments not affected by the eviction (Royal Family website).
What’s unclear
- Whether Sarah Ferguson will move to Sandringham (offer not confirmed) (YouTube interview with Andrew Lownie).
- Details of private security contracts for the princesses (BBC News).
- Long-term financial arrangements for the York family (BBC News).
- Whether a future monarch could restrict titles to working royals only (editorial opinion cited by royal biographer).
- The exact amount of any financial settlement for Andrew’s departure from Royal Lodge (reported as varying across outlets) (YouTube interview citing press reports).
Expert perspectives
“We can confirm that the Princesses will continue to be styled as Their Royal Highnesses and remain in the line of succession.”
— Palace spokesperson (anonymous), October 2025, via BBC News
“The stripping of Andrew’s titles was a personal sanction—it doesn’t touch his daughters. They are princesses by birthright, not by appointment.”
— BBC royal correspondent, analysis of title retention, via BBC News
“Andrew has been told to leave Royal Lodge by the end of the year. The question is whether he goes quietly or whether there’s a standoff.”
— NY Post source, quoted in BBC News
The pattern: for the York family, the choice is clear—accept a reduced, private existence or fight a public battle they are almost certain to lose. For Beatrice and Eugenie, the decoupling from their father’s scandals appears complete, but the cost is a future outside the spotlight, funded by their own efforts and the goodwill of a palace that has already drawn a line between them and their parents.
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A detailed look at the stability of Princess Eugenie and Beatrices titles reveals how the sisters retain their HRH titles despite their father’s departure from Royal Lodge.
Frequently asked questions
Do Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie still have royal titles?
Yes. As of October 2025, both retain their HRH styles and Princess titles. The Palace confirmed no change. (Royal Family website)
Why did Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie lose royal protection?
Government-funded police protection was withdrawn in 2023 as part of a wider review. They now rely on private security. (UK Government)
Will Sarah Ferguson move to Sandringham?
Sandringham has been offered as a possible residence, but the move is not confirmed. The eviction deadline is late 2025. (BBC News)
What condition does Princess Beatrice have?
Princess Beatrice has dyslexia and actively campaigns for dyslexia awareness. It does not affect her eyes or appearance. (Royal Family website)
Where do Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice live now?
Beatrice lives at St. James’s Palace; Eugenie lives at Ivy Cottage, Kensington Palace. Both are grace-and-favour apartments not affected by the Royal Lodge eviction. (Royal Family website)
Are Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie working royals?
No. They are non-working royals and do not receive public funds for official duties. (Royal Family website)
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.