Princess Eugenie is reported to have stepped down as patron of charity Anti-Slavery International, the oldest human rights organisation in the world.
The move comes after emails released by the US government revealed further details about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Her profile has been removed from the charity’s website, which previously hailed her work “across the board with leaders in the fight against modern slavery”. She has not commented on her father’s relationship with Epstein or the allegations made against him by Virginia Giuffre.
In a statement to The Observer, Anti-Slavery International said: “After seven years, our patronage from HRH Princess Eugenie of York has come to an end. We thank the Princess very much for her support for Anti-Slavery International. We hope that she continues to work to end slavery for good and deliver freedom for everyone.”
Anti-Slavery International’s other patrons include Dame Judi Dench, Julie Etchingham, Baroness Helena Kennedy, Vanita Patel, Hugh Quarshie and Baroness Lola Young.
The charity was founded in 1839 by abolitionists campaigning against slavery worldwide. At more than 180 years old, it is the oldest human rights organisation in the world.
As part of her work fighting modern slavery, the younger daughter of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is a co-founder of the anti-slavery collective, has visited survivors with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and the Salvation Army, and has hosted a roundtable for the US Ambassador-at-Large for combating trafficking in persons.
Princess Eugenie currently works for modern art gallery Hauser & Wirth as a director. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Princess Eugenie in connection with Epstein, and Mr Mountbatten-Windsor denies all allegations against him.
In the latest document release from the US Department of Justice, a Brazilian woman who was abused by Epstein alleges that she massaged Mr Mountbatten-Windsor before he gave her a massage back.
The woman told the FBI that she was “quite shocked to see him”. The revelations come after one photo in a separate document in the Epstein files appears to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor touching a fully clothed woman’s abdomen.
The royal, stripped of his titles, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations he shared sensitive information with the financier while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
He spent around 11 hours in custody in February as searches were conducted at his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and at his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, and was released pending further investigation.
Anti-Slavery International and Buckingham Palace have been contacted for comment.
