Princess Beatrice 'hit hard' by Epstein scandal and looks 'haunted' in rare outing with Eugenie

Princess Beatrice has been “hit hard” by the fallout from her parents’ Epstein scandal as she stepped out with sister Princess Eugenie in a rare joint appearance in London , a body language expert has claimed. Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36, were spotted enjoying lunch in Mayfair, but the outing comes amid ongoing turmoil surrounding their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson . The sisters were seen strolling through the capital after dining at an exclusive venue, with one witness saying they looked “in great spirits as they made the most of the sunshine”. But behind the smiles, sources say the strain of recent months has taken its toll, particularly on Beatrice, who is believed to be struggling to balance family loyalty with her position within the Royal Family. The sighting marks the first time the York sisters have been seen together in London for months, following the scandal that engulfed their family earlier this year. Hours later, Eugenie was seen putting on a brave face as she headed out for a date night with husband Jack Brooksbank in Notting Hill, smiling as the couple left a Michelin-starred restaurant. Body language analyst Judi James told the Mirror : “While Eugenie appears comfortable putting on a display of resilience and bravado for the cameras, sporting a wide wall-to-wall smile to suggest life is nothing other than perfect, her older sister Beatrice looks less able to bluff it out here, with her gestures and facial expression hinting that she has been hit hard by the fallout of her parent's dramas. "Beatrice walks behind her sister here, dressed in a very drab black on a warm sunny day, with her choice of outfit suggesting a desire to avoid attracting attention. "She has her large bag clamped to the front of her body in a barrier gesture, with one hand held over the front of the bag suggesting a desire to self-protect. In another photo she has her arms folded over her torso which could also be a sign of vulnerability. "Her facial expression looks strained and unhappy here. Her eyes have a haunted expression, and her lips are clamped shut. Eugenie seems to try for a more carefree demeanor here, looking especially cheerful when she is walking next to her equally over-smiling husband Jack. “ Despite the relaxed appearances, the wider picture remains fraught. Their father Andrew has retreated from public life, while their mother Ferguson has also kept a low profile. A royal source previously revealed that Beatrice has found herself “walking a tightrope”, torn between supporting her parents and maintaining her own standing, MailOnline reports . Meanwhile, Eugenie is said to have taken a firmer stance, though both sisters remain close and supportive of each other during the difficult period. The outing comes after months out of the spotlight for the pair, with both largely avoiding public appearances as the scandal dominated headlines. Despite the ongoing fallout, the sisters are expected to continue attending select royal events, with insiders suggesting the King remains supportive of his nieces. This is despite the pair recently deciding not to join the King and others for Easter. The princesses have been under mounting pressure in recent weeks regarding their relationship with convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein , with both women feature in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the US State Department in January. Beatrice and Eugenie did join the King and his family for Christmas at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, but have since gone to ground following revelations concerning their parents' closeness to Epstein. A royal source suggested the princesses' had decided, with the agreement and understanding of the King, that they would make alternative plans for this Easter. The King invited both Beatrice and Eugenie to his Sandringham estate at Christmas to spend the festive period with the extended royal family just three months ago. Their invitation and acceptance was seen as a bold statement of support from the King who had sympathy for their plight. Elsewhere, Princess Eugenie's husband is reportedly maintaining one firm boundary regarding their household. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's youngest daughter finds herself entangled in the aftermath of his association with Epstein . The Duchess of York's location remains unknown after she and her former husband were ordered to vacate Royal Lodge in Windsor, their residence of nearly 20 years. However, she hasn't relocated to live with either of her daughters, and, according to insiders, Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank , is opposed to the arrangement, reports the Express .