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Princess Beatrice is reportedly "absolutely devastated" by the recent scandal involving her father, Prince Andrew . The 37 year old Royal was seen looking upset as she drove away from Royal Lodge shortly after her father announced he would no longer use his titles or honours. Since Andrew's announcement last Friday, more troubling allegations have surfaced about the prince, including claims that he has barely paid any rent on Royal Lodge in 22 years. The situation has deeply affected Beatrice, according to Royal insiders . One source revealed: "She was on the phone saying she couldn't bring herself to look at the Sunday papers. She looked absolutely devastated." When Beatrice was 20 and her younger sister Eugenie was 19, they accompanied their mother Sarah to the US to visit convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein following his release from prison in 2009. However, amidst the current uproar, it has been revealed that Andrew had asked his police protection officer to investigate whether Virginia Giuffre had a criminal record. The 65 year old prince has consistently denied all allegations against him, reports the Mirror . This leaves both Beatrice and Eugenie, now mothers themselves, in challenging positions. One Royal expert has suggested that the sisters might consider renouncing their princess titles – despite the fact that they themselves have done nothing wrong. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of Sarah: The Life of A Duchess, said: "Giving up their titles would give them freedom from their parents, stop them being tarred with the same brush and be a clear sign that they want to make their own way in the world. I think people would hugely respect them for it and, I think, ultimately, they would be happier." However, Beatrice and Eugenie were introduced to their parents' commercial ventures from an early age. Beatrice was still an infant when the then Duke and Duchess of York pocketed a staggering £250,000 for a 48-page feature in Hello! magazine, which included photographs of their daughter in the bath. Today, neither Beatrice nor Eugenie receives taxpayer funding from the Sovereign Grant – which bankrolls the monarch's official duties – and both balance private careers alongside family life and charitable endeavours. Neither sister works as a full-time royal, though their titles are believed to provide significant advantages in the business world. Last April, the pair were hailed as the " Royal Family's Secret Weapon" on the cover of Hello! magazine. Praising her daughters, Ms Ferguson remarked: "They miss their grandmother but learned so much from the late Queen – humility and goodness with compassion and strength. They are brave and bold and stand like giant oaks in the wind and don't break." Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
