Princess Eugenie Steps Down from Anti-Slavery Charity Amid Father's Legal Troubles
Princess Eugenie has resigned from her role as patron of the historic anti-slavery charity Anti-Slavery International, a move that comes shortly after the arrest of her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The decision marks the end of her seven-year association with the human rights organization, which was founded in 1839 by Thomas Clarkson and is recognized as the world's oldest group of its kind.
Background and Immediate Aftermath
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The allegations center on claims that he shared confidential information with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. He was released under investigation on the same day, with images showing him slouched in the back of a car.
In response, Anti-Slavery International removed Princess Eugenie's profile from its website, where it had previously praised her work "across the board with leaders in the fight against modern slavery." The charity issued a statement two weeks later, thanking her for her support over the years and expressing hope that she would continue her efforts to end slavery.
Connections to Jeffrey Epstein
Emails from the Epstein files have surfaced, indicating that Sarah Ferguson and her daughters, including Princess Eugenie, flew to the United States just days after Epstein's release from jail in July 2009. They met him for lunch in Miami while he was under house arrest as a registered sex offender, with Epstein reportedly covering the flight costs. Ferguson later expressed gratitude in an email, calling him "the brother I have always wished for." There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Eugenie, her sister Princess Beatrice, or their mother in connection with Epstein.
Charity Involvement and Financial Scrutiny
Princess Eugenie announced her patronage of Anti-Slavery International on Anti-Slavery Day in October 2019. Additionally, she co-founded a separate organization, The Anti-Slavery Collective, in 2017. Recent reports from The Observer reveal that this group spent twice as much on salaries (£191,537) as on charitable programmes (£97,206), prompting the Charity Commission to assess concerns over its expenditure. Both The Anti-Slavery Collective and Princess Eugenie have been contacted for comment.
This development adds to the ongoing scrutiny of the royal family, particularly in light of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's legal issues and the broader implications for their public roles and charitable engagements.
