An expert claims William’s relationship with Eugenie and Beatrice is strained (Image: WPA POOL)

The release of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the US Department of Justice could put further strain on the relationship between the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, as tensions mount. The most recent tranche of documents has raised questions about how much the two Princesses knew about their parents’ dealings with the late convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein.

After King Charles stripped his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his military and royal titles, experts have suggested the Prince of Wales might take the same approach with his cousins. As reported in the Daily Mail, a source said: “William and Kate don’t appear to be close to either of the sisters. They haven’t got that much in common.”

William, 43, will be watching closely as the Epstein Files continue to be made public while evaluating Beatrice and Eugenie’s future within the Firm.

The source further added: “William has made a point of inviting Beatrice and Eugenie, and other cousins, to help him host a Buckingham Palace garden party once a year. But there’s no sign of him ever wanting his cousins to be taxpayer-funded working royals. That’s been made pretty clear.”

“Eugenie, particularly, seems to be closer to Harry than she is to William.”

If Prince William and Princess Catherine have concerns about the York sisters they could be aggrevated by their parents’ continued association with Epstein. The release of files connected to Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges in 2019, contained further damning evidence of their ongoing friendship with him.

Eugenie and Beatrice often attend Royal Family functions (Image: WPA POOL)

An expert also commented on Eugenie’s friendship with Prince Harry, who quit royal duties in 2020 alongside his wife, Meghan Markle. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “We know that the sisters, especially Eugenie, were friendly with the Sussexes, though reports vary as to whether this remains the case.

“It is therefore unsurprising that Catherine appears to have been cautious in her relations with them.

“The sisters face an enormous challenge, being happily married, well adjusted and with careers, but clearly wanting to do more charity work as princesses.

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“However, their parents are engulfed in a very serious crisis which may prove absolutely cataclysmic”.

Although Andrew was stripped of his titles and left out of Royal Lodge over the scandal, Beatrice and Eugenie were allowed to retain their titles and joined the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham last year.