Sarah Ferguson "never approved" of her daughter, Princess Beatrice's marriage to Edo Mapelli Mozzi, a royal expert has claimed.
Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie's husbands have encouraged them to "distance themselves" from their parents, both of whom have been plagued by recent scandals, Andrew Lownie told the Daily Mail.
This, combined with pre-existing tensions between Sarah and her son-in-law, has reportedly contributed to an increasingly strained relationship between the two.
Both sisters have opted to keep a low profile during the continued controversies that have hit their parents, most notably their father, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's connection to the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
In recent weeks, rumours about Beatrice and Edo's relationship have begun to swirl, with some saying the pair are "on the rocks" and suffering tensions over Andrew. These reports were vehemently denied by friends of the pair, who told HELLO! the claims are "not true at all".
© Getty ImagesPrincess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's plan to salvage their reputations
Lownie, who wrote Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said Beatrice, 38, and Eugenie, 36, are "playing down" their familial ties in an attempt to salvage their own reputations and protect their earnings. He added that both husbands' families are "appalled" by Andrew and his activities.
This has put particular strain on Beatrice's relationship with her mother, who, according to Lownie, never approved of her relationship with Edo. The royal expert said Sarah's known dislike for her daughter's husband sparked further questions regarding her and the former Duke of York's lesser involvement in Beatrice's wedding.
Lownie said: "Both husbands' families are appalled by the activities of the former Duke and Duchess of York. A complication is the latter themselves never approved of Edo, so no love lost there."
© Dave M. BenettPrincess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi's wedding
Beatrice and Edo tied the knot in 2020 during an intimate ceremony at Royal Chapel of All Saints in the grounds of Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. Since their wedding fell during lockdown, the couple celebrated a notably smaller union in front of just 20 guests.
Beatrice's father was involved in the nuptials insofar as he walked her down the aisle, but he was not included in the official royal portraits from the day, likely as a result of his involvement with Epstein, for which he has now been stripped of his royal titles.
Instead of having her parents in her wedding pictures, it was Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip who joined Beatrice and Edo for their official photographs, the late monarch reportedly wanting to ensure the day was still special for the couple.
© Getty ImagesDespite the awkward situation at hand, Lownie said the girls likely feel a sense of "loyalty" to their parents and will be struggling to balance this with their husbands' feelings on the matter.
Despite tensions between Edo and Sarah, it is thought that the former Duchess remains close with both her daughters, with the pre-existing "tripod" unscathed by the situation."
There has been plenty of scandal over the years, and the daughters have not cut themselves loose largely because they are cut from the same cloth and very much under the thumb of their mother," he said.
