Scrutiny on Princess Eugenie's anti-trafficking charity intensifies as fallout over Andrew's links with Epstein grows

ANALYSIS – – As the depths of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein emerges, attention is now turning to the suitability of his youngest daughter's work with a major charity.

Princess Eugenie, 35, co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective, a charity which focuses on helping victims of sex trafficking and exploitation, nearly a decade ago.

The princess, and her charity, have so far remained silent as the latest controversy surrounding Andrew and Epstein dominates headlines around the world.

The scandal is now overshadowing the day to day work of the royal family, prompting King Charles to declare his "profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light" concerning Andrew's "conduct".

Separately, the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were "deeply concerned by the continuing revelations" but did not mention Andrew, or Epstein, by name.

The two statements from the King and his heir were issued on Monday, the King's via Buckingham Palace's WhatsApp group and Prince William's through a Kensington Palace spokesperson.

They followed a handful of incidents where members of the public heckled the King and his family as they carried out engagements across the UK.

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Prince William, who is in Saudi Arabia on a diplomatic mission at the behest of the British government, ignored a question about his uncle on day one of the visit.

His team issued the Andrew-Epstein statement at the beginning of the trip, hoping to push the issue aside.

It hasn't worked. And now there are growing calls for the royals to take a bigger stand.

"At some point, they are going to have to address this and not just with palace aides through PR speak, but through, for example, a television address where they make the very strong case that they don't condone any of this behaviour," royal biographer Robert Jobson told The Telegraph UK.

"They need to put clear water between themselves and Andrew."

The situation is especially tricky for Andrew's two daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, who have been dragged into the mess through their parents' past indiscretions.

The sisters have been keeping a low profile since their father and mother Sarah Ferguson lost their royal titles in October and were evicted from Royal Lodge.

However, they chose to attend Christmas with their uncle the King and members of the royal family at Sandringham last year while Andrew and Fergie spent the day alone in Windsor.

Andrew's removal from Royal Lodge last week was accelerated by the recent release of Epstein files, in which the former Duke and Duchess of York are mentioned throughout.

Before her father's move, Princess Beatrice was seen taking her young daughter horse-riding on the grounds of Home Park, nearby Windsor Castle, with Andrew.

And just before Christmas, Princess Eugenie visited him at Royal Lodge to clear out her bedroom there.

Neither Princess Beatrice or Princess Eugenie are working royals but often attend wider, family events alongside the King and his relatives.

Both sisters have their own careers and, like so many royals, they have various philanthropic endeavours.

Last week, Eugenie quietly travelled to Qatar to attend an art fair in her role as director at Hauser & Wirth, a gallery in Mayfair.

Princess Eugenie's charity work, however, is coming under intense scrutiny in light of her father's dealings with Epstein, a convicted sex offender accused of trafficking teenage girls around the world.

The Anti-Slavery Collective, which she co-founded with school friend Julia de Boinville in 2017, was created after a visit to India in 2012 where she met trafficked women in Kolkata.

The charity has so far not issued a statement despite the irony. Princess Eugenie is listed as a trustee.

Author Andrew Lownie, who last year wrote the book Entitled – which kickstarted Andrew and Sarah's most recent fall from grace – questioned the appropriateness of the princess' involvement with The Anti-Slavery Collective.

Lownie told the BBC: "It's a preposterously inappropriate cause for [Eugenie] to be involved with".

The princess is also patron of Anti-Slavery International.

The sisters are mentioned at various points in the cache of newly-released Epstein files.

One of the most shocking pieces of information to emerge is that Epstein bought plane tickets for Ferguson and her daughters so they could visit him in the US shortly after his release from prison.

It was 2009 and Epstein had just been released after serving 12 months for soliciting a child for prostitution.

Epstein would have still been under house arrest; Beatrice aged just 20 at the time and Eugenie, 19 years.

Other emails indicate a lunch took place between Ferguson, her daughters and Epstein.

In another email, sent by Epstein on July 1, 2010, he said would be in London that week and asked Ferguson about her daughters, who were then aged 21 and 20.

Another, sent on March 21, 2010, from a "Sarah" said to Epstein she was "just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a sh--ging weekend!!"

The context of the exchange is unknown.

The emails also reveal Andrew sent photos of his daughters to Epstein in 2010 and 2011 including one of Beatrice climbing Mont Blanc and Eugenie in in a charity bicycle ride.

Lownie dismissed suggestions Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were completely innocent players in the saga that has engulfed their parents.

Nine.com.au is not suggesting any wrongdoing on behalf of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

In 2022, Princess Eugenie launched a podcast about modern slavery just weeks after Andrew made a substantial donation to a sex trafficking charity as part of an out-of-court settlement with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

The series had first been announced in 2019 but put on ice as pressure mounted on her father over his relationship with Epstein.

Giuffre later sued the former Duke of York, alleging she was trafficked by Epstein to the UK and forced to have sex with Andrew against her will when she was 17.

Andrew has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.

His out-of-court settlement with Giuffre did not include any admission of wrongdoing.

Princess Eugenie co-hosted the podcast, called Floodlight, which featured guests including Dame Emma Thompson and former British prime minster Theresa May.

In announcing the podcast four years ago, Eugenie said she hoped to raise awareness about modern slavery and trafficking, adding that it was "ultimately vulnerable people that are being treated as commodities".

"You can look at what you're doing in your life and try and pay it forward, help that person that you think might be in trouble or not, or just make good decisions."

The Salvation Army, in which Princess Eugenie has worked closely, told the BBC: "We place victims and survivors at the heart of all our decision making and we are closely monitoring this story".

In June last year, the princess visited a Salvation Army safe house to meet with abuse survivors.

"I think it's really important that people are aware that human trafficking and modern slavery exists today," Eugenie said in a video shared to social media.

"It's so important that charities like the Salvation Army and my charity, The Anti-Slavery Collective, work together to support and make a difference, and make a change."

There's no doubt Princess Eugenie is in a tough situation, trying to balance loyalty to her parents and also her commitments to her charity.

But the royal could take a stand by issuing a statement supporting the millions of victims who are trafficked around the world every year, while still distancing herself from the sins of her father.

Much like the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales, eyes have now turned to Princess Eugenie and we are waiting with bated breath.

The Anti-Slavery Collective has been approached for comment.

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