Royal sisters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are experiencing turbulent times in the wake of their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. Amid the swirling controversy, we've seen Princess Eugenie step down from her position at charity, Anti-Slavery International, and experts say they are both steering clear of royal events at the moment due to public scrutiny.
When their father was pressured into relinquishing his lease for Royal Lodge, the sisters kissed goodbye to inheriting the £30 million, 30-room mansion in Windsor because the details of the agreement said that Andrew would be allowed to pass the lease on to any dependent in future.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's lease
A National Audit Office report reads: "The terms of the August 2003 lease agreement between The Crown Estate and HRH the Duke of York prevent him from gaining financially from any increase in the value of the property, as the freehold rests with The Crown Estate and the leasehold cannot be assigned to anyone else except to his widow or his two daughters (or a trust established solely for their benefit)."
© UK Press via Getty ImagesWhile this might seem like a devastating blow for Beatrice and Eugenie, who both have families of their own, it could actually be a blessing in disguise due to the condition of Royal Lodge. The Grade-II listed building requires a lot of upkeep due to its age, and at the time of departure Andrew was reportedly failing to keep up with the repairs. Images from October 2025 show parts of the building were crumbling and cracking. Taking on the lease also means taking on the refurbishment bills, so perhaps it's a positive that the Princesses aren't left with this unknown cost.
Where do Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice live?
Beatrice is settled in the Cotswolds, with a grace-and-favour home inside St James's Palace in London for her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their daughters Sienna and Athena and Edoardo's son Wolfie. Meanwhile, her sister Eugenie currently splits her time between Portugal and the UK with her two children, August and Ernest, whom she shares with her husband Jack Brooksbank. They also have a grace-and-favour home Ivy Cottage, inside Kensington Palace grounds.
While the sisters themselves are not under suspicion of any crime, unlike their father, they are still under the spotlight, and many people are now questioning their lives of royal privilege. They are classed as non-working royals as they have their own jobs and do not carry out official engagements. We discuss in more detail in our VIP content.
