Prince William has reportedly asked other royals not to be photographed alongside Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie for "the rest of the year". The sisters are currently facing the fallout of the Epstein scandal involving their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, as well as their father's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and release under investigation last month.

William's request to his fellow royals is said to come amid fears that the former York family pose a serious risk to the wider family. Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, have reportedly been banned from an appearance at this year's Royal Ascot.

As reported by the Daily Mail, one source has said: "Ascot would be out of the question because the royals have been told they can't have pictures with the girls for the rest of the year".

Beatrice and Eugenie are known to have been regular attendees at Royal Ascot, so the decision not to attend is likely a massive blow.

A source said it would be impossible for them to attend because, traditionally, those in the carriage procession stay at Windsor Castle the night before and have dinner with the family.

They added: "That's another reason why it's out of the question that the girls will be able to go, unless they are just there as members of the Royal Enclosure".

It has been reported that Prince William and Princess Catherine were careful not to appear in any photographs with Beatrice and Eugenie at the royal's Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate last year.

A separate source has said there was still "a lot of sympathy for the girls" among the public, who were not "harbouring any bad feelings".

As reported by RadarOnline, one source revealed that Beatrice and Eugenie both have differing approaches to how they deal with their parents. They said: "Beatrice has always had a fiercely loyal streak, especially when it comes to her father. Her instinct is to stand by Andrew and show solidarity, regardless of the public backlash. She feels that turning away in difficult moments would only deepen the fracture."

Speaking of Andrew's youngest daughter, they added: "But Eugenie is taking a more cautious approach. Her priority is protecting her husband and children, and preserving the credibility she has built in her own career.