Princess Beatrice, ninth in line to the British throne, is quietly exploring a trans-Atlantic move that would see her and her young family put 3,000 miles between themselves and the unrelenting headlines swirling around her father, Prince Andrew.
According to multiple palace-adjacent sources, the 35-year-old royal has held informal talks about basing herself in the United States for at least part of the year. The motivation is not wanderlust but survival: friends say she is “mortified” by renewed police interest in Andrew’s ties to the late sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein and fears the scandal will define her children’s lives if the family remains in Britain.
Why the Epstein Fallout Has Reached a Tipping Point
Prince Andrew has never been charged with a crime, yet his 2019 Newsnight interview—followed by a civil sexual-assault lawsuit settled out of court in 2022—stripped him of military titles and public duties. Insiders believed the worst was over until Metropolitan Police officers reopened the case file last month, reportedly interviewing new witnesses and forwarding material to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The development blindsided Buckingham Palace and rattled the wider Windsor clan. Beatrice, who has always been close to her father, learned of the police move through a late-night phone call that left her “shaking,” a friend told the Mail on Sunday. Within days she began researching schooling options in New York and Connecticut, jurisdictions where her husband, property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, already holds business visas.
Family Precedent and the “Sitting Duck” Problem
Beatrice’s younger sister, Princess Eugenie, spent two years living in Portugal and Italy after marrying Jack Brooksbank in 2018. Eugenie’s stint abroad proved that minor royals can slip off the British media radar without forfeiting their place in the line of succession. “The precedent has been set,” the source said. “If Eugenie could do it, Beatrice sees no reason why she can’t.”
The couple’s fear is that remaining in the U.K. makes them “sitting ducks” for photographers and protestors every time Andrew appears in public. Edoardo’s development firm, Banda Property, has several high-end projects in Manhattan and Palm Beach; relocating would allow him to supervise builds in person while giving Beatrice the anonymity she craves.
What a Stateside Life Could Look Like
Although no final decision has been made, aides have sketched out a flexible schedule: nine months in the U.S., summers at the Mozzi family villa on Lake Maggiore, and occasional U.K. visits for major royal events such as coronations or funerals. Beatrice is understood to have toured two private schools in Westchester County that offer British curricula, suggesting the couple is planning for their daughter Sienna, 2, and Edoardo’s son Wolfie, 7, to begin primary education abroad.
Financially, the move is feasible. Beatrice already earns a six-figure salary as vice-president of strategic partnerships at Afiniti, the U.S.-based software giant. The role is largely remote, but being on Eastern Standard Time would make client calls easier. Edoardo’s property portfolio spans London, Los Angeles and New York, so a base in Connecticut would place him within commuter distance of three airports.
Obstacles Still on the Table
Relocation is not without complications:
- Visa status: While Beatrice travels on a British passport, she would need a U.S. work visa tied to Afiniti or an investor visa funded by Edoardo’s business.
- Security costs: Scotland Yard provides protection only when royals perform official duties. A private security detail for the family in the U.S. could exceed £500,000 a year.
- Family backlash: Prince Andrew is said to be “devastated” at the prospect of his daughter leaving the country; Sarah Ferguson reportedly supports whatever reduces stress on her children.
- Public perception: Critics may interpret the move as fleeing rather than facing the controversy, potentially damaging the royal brand further.
How the Palace Is Responding
Buckingham Palace has stuck to its customary line: “We do not comment on the private lives of members of the royal family.” Privately, courtiers acknowledge that minor royals living abroad is now “the new normal” after Harry and Meghan’s departure to California in 2020. One senior aide told The Times: “The institution has bigger fires to fight. If Princess Beatrice feels she can build a healthier life overseas, no one is going to stand in her way.”
Whether the plan materializes hinges on the next legal chapter. If prosecutors charge Prince Andrew, the media storm would intensify, making a fresh start almost irresistible. If the investigation fizzles, Beatrice may decide to stay and tough it out on home soil.
Bottom Line
For a woman who grew up in the goldfish bowl of Windsor life, Beatrice’s priority is now crystal-clear: shield her young family from the fallout of a scandal she did not create. America, with its vast open spaces and celebrity-fatigued press, may offer the breathing room she can no longer find
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