Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie quietly made their escape from the UK as their father, Prince Andrew, had his royal titles stripped and was evicted from his royal lodging.
The sisters – who will still retain their royal titles despite their parents losing theirs – avoided the scandal by taking two different vacations before the official announcement was released.
Eugenie, 35, was spotted on a girls’ trip to Paris with friends on October 26. In the background of a picture shared to Instagram is the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower.
Beatrice, 37, was pictured posing for a photo at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 28.
The news of the royal siblings’ trips came shortly before Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that King Charles III had taken away Prince Andrew’s titles amid the reignited interest in his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. He will now be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” Buckingham Palace told Page Six in a statement Thursday.
He was also ordered to “surrender” his lease at the Royal Lodge and “move to alternative private accommodation”.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” the statement continued.
The title removal applies to Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh and “His Royal Highness.” The honours affected include his Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order.
It has been reported that Prince Andrew will be making arrangements to relocate to a residence on the private Sandringham estate. Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson – who has lived with him at Royal Lodge since 2008 – will make her own arrangements. She has also been stripped of her Duchess of York title.
The title change comes as no surprise after Andrew previously agreed that “continued accusations” against him and his connection to Epstein “distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal family” earlier this month.
He wrote in a statement, “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me,” he added at the time.
