Prince Andrew reportedly skipped his daughter Princess Eugenie’s 11th birthday celebration at Disneyland to prolong his stay at Jeffrey Epstein’s luxurious Palm Beach residence, according to explosive new claims in a forthcoming royal biography. The revelation, drawn from previously unseen documents, insider accounts, and travel records, paints a disturbing picture of the Duke of York’s priorities during one of the most scrutinized periods of his life.

Eugenie turned 11 on March 23, 2001. Family plans had included a special trip to Disneyland in California, a destination chosen to create magical memories for the young princess and her brother Prince Andrew (Beatrice). Yet Andrew, then in his early 40s and still a working royal, did not join them. Instead, he remained in Florida, extending his time at Epstein’s sprawling oceanfront mansion known as “Little St. James” in the U.S. Virgin Islands? No—correction: the claim centers on Epstein’s Palm Beach estate, where Andrew is alleged to have spent additional days following an earlier visit.

The book, authored by a veteran royal correspondent with access to high-level sources, asserts that Andrew deliberately delayed his departure from Florida to continue socializing with Epstein. Flight logs and private schedules reviewed by the author show Andrew arriving in Palm Beach in mid-March 2001, ostensibly for a pre-arranged engagement. Rather than flying immediately to California to meet his family for Eugenie’s birthday, he stayed on. The decision, the author argues, reflects the depth of his entanglement with Epstein at a time when the financier’s criminal activities were not yet public knowledge but were already raising quiet concerns among some in royal circles.

Eugenie’s birthday trip went ahead without her father. Beatrice, then 12, accompanied her sister along with their mother Sarah Ferguson and other family members. Photos from the day show the girls smiling in front of Cinderella’s Castle, wearing Mickey Mouse ears, and posing with Disney characters—images of innocence that stand in stark contrast to the allegations surrounding their father’s whereabouts. Sarah Ferguson later spoke warmly of the trip in interviews, emphasizing the joy it brought her daughters, but she has never publicly addressed Andrew’s absence.

The claim adds fresh fuel to long-standing questions about Andrew’s relationship with Epstein. Court documents unsealed in recent years, including Virginia Giuffre’s allegations and flight logs from Epstein’s private jet, place Andrew at the financier’s properties multiple times between 1999 and 2002. The Palm Beach mansion was a key location where Epstein allegedly trafficked underage girls, a fact Andrew has consistently denied any knowledge of. Yet the decision to prioritize time there over a child’s milestone birthday has struck many as particularly callous.

Defenders of Andrew have argued that royal diaries are often inflexible and that business or diplomatic commitments could explain his absence. However, the author counters that no official engagement has been identified for those specific dates in Florida, and private correspondence suggests Andrew actively chose to remain. One source quoted in the book recalls Andrew telling associates he was “enjoying the sunshine and the company” too much to leave early.

The revelation has reignited public scrutiny of Andrew’s post-royal life. Stripped of military titles and patronages in 2022 following his disastrous Newsnight interview, he has maintained a low profile while continuing to reside at Royal Lodge in Windsor. His daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, have distanced themselves publicly from the scandal, focusing on their own families and charitable work. Eugenie, now a mother of two, has spoken movingly about her close relationship with her father despite the controversies, but the Disneyland story adds another painful layer to their family history.

For many observers, the claim underscores a pattern of poor judgment that marked Andrew’s adult life. From his friendship with Epstein to his financial dealings with controversial figures, the Duke of York repeatedly placed himself in compromising positions. Missing a daughter’s birthday for extended time at a predator’s residence—whether or not he knew the full extent of Epstein’s crimes—fits into a broader narrative of detachment and self-interest.

The Palm Beach property itself has become infamous. Epstein purchased the mansion in 1990 and used it as a base for his social and criminal activities. Undercover police operations and victim testimonies later detailed how young women were allegedly recruited and abused there. Andrew’s visits, confirmed through multiple sources, have been cited in civil lawsuits and media investigations, though he settled a case with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability.

Eugenie’s 11th birthday remains a bittersweet memory for the family. While the girls enjoyed the magic of Disneyland, the absence of their father cast a shadow that only grew darker with time. As more details emerge from Epstein-related documents and books, that shadow lengthens, forcing renewed examination of Andrew’s choices and their impact on those closest to him.

The author concludes that the Disneyland snub was not merely a scheduling conflict but a window into Andrew’s mindset during his Epstein years—prioritizing personal gratification over family obligations. Whether driven by naivety, denial, or something more deliberate, the decision to stay in Palm Beach has become one more indelible mark on a tarnished royal legacy.

As the public digests this latest claim, the pain for Eugenie and Beatrice remains private. They grew up in the glare of scandal, yet have forged their own paths. The Disneyland photos—two little girls beaming in a fairy-tale world—stand as a poignant reminder of innocence lost, not just to time but to the choices of a father who, according to this account, chose elsewhere when they needed him most.