Royal opts for private celebration as she remains protective of her embattled father
Princess Eugenie is choosing to mark her 35th birthday with a low-key, private gathering, quietly stepping back from public festivities amid the continuing controversy surrounding her father, Prince Andrew.
The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson is expected to spend the day with her immediate family, avoiding the spotlight as royal tensions and personal challenges weigh heavily on her milestone occasion.
Royal expert and former BBC correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror that both Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, have faced a particularly difficult time in recent years. “They are incredibly close to their mother, who has had her own battle with cancer,” Bond said. “And of course, both girls will have been upset by the cancer diagnoses of the King and the Princess of Wales.”
Bond added that Eugenie is likely to favour a quiet birthday with her parents and her young family, rather than a high-profile royal celebration—particularly due to her father’s ongoing public fallout.
Despite Prince Andrew’s continued absence from royal duties and the strain his scandals have placed on the monarchy, his daughters have remained firmly supportive. “They remain extremely protective of him and his welfare,” Bond said. “It has been very difficult for them to watch their father under attack from so many sides. But they are a very close family.”
Eugenie’s decision to keep her birthday low-key reflects not just personal preference, but also a clear desire to protect her family during a turbulent time.
