Fresh allegations have emerged suggesting Prince Andrew contemplated stepping down from royal duties long before his dramatic eviction from Royal Lodge under cover of darkness. According to newly released correspondence, the Duke of York considered abdication following remarks allegedly made by the late Queen Elizabeth II about his daughters' employment prospects.
Epstein Files Reveal Royal Discontent
The startling revelations originate from messages sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, which have recently been made public. These documents paint a picture of a deeply unhappy Andrew, who felt trapped within the royal institution.
One particularly revealing message states: "Stuff bad for A's girls. Got royal protection taken away. Queen said np royal list, get a job. A is sad and frustrated. Considering abdication but he's like a zoo animal, no way esp now for him to thrive."
Queen's Reported Comments Spark Crisis
The correspondence suggests Andrew's discontent stemmed from Queen Elizabeth II allegedly telling him that his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, should "get a job" rather than rely on royal privileges. This reportedly occurred around the same period when the princesses lost their taxpayer-funded security due to cost-cutting measures.
An email exchange between Epstein and someone identified only as "Melanie" from May 8, 2011, details Andrew's reaction to these developments. The message describes how the Queen's comments about her granddaughters seeking employment outside the royal family left Andrew feeling "sad and frustrated" to the point of considering abdication.
Daughters Forge Independent Careers
In the years since these exchanges, both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have indeed established careers outside the traditional royal framework. Beatrice currently serves as vice-president at software company Afiniti, while Eugenie works as a director at Mayfair art gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Neither princess has publicly commented on the latest revelations from the Epstein files. However, a friend reportedly told Page Six that Eugenie feels "unfairly dragged" into the ongoing scandal surrounding her father. The friend stated: "I know that Eugenie feels like she's being tarnished with a brush that's not hers, that's her father's. She's very, very frustrated."
Royal Distancing Before Latest Revelations
Even before these documents surfaced, reports suggested both princesses had been distancing themselves from their parents to varying degrees. Both opted to spend Christmas with the wider royal family rather than with Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Sources indicate Eugenie has completely cut contact with her father, while Beatrice has been attempting to "walk the fine line" of maintaining some relationship with Andrew while remaining close to the royal family institution.
Nighttime Eviction Caps Dramatic Fall
These revelations about Andrew's earlier contemplation of abdication come as the Duke faces his most public humiliation yet - being removed from his 30-room Royal Lodge residence in Windsor during the night. The dramatic eviction represents the latest chapter in Andrew's fall from grace, which began with his association with Jeffrey Epstein and culminated in his stripping of royal patronages and military titles.
The newly released documents provide crucial context to Andrew's current predicament, suggesting his dissatisfaction with royal life predates his more recent scandals by over a decade. They reveal a man who felt constrained by his royal position long before his public disgrace, describing himself as being "like a zoo animal" with no opportunity to thrive within the institution.
