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Princess Eugenie stepped out today with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, marking their first public appearance since her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, faced arrest.
Ranked 12th in line to the British throne, Eugenie opted for a laid-back ensemble, sporting Nike sneakers, blue leggings, a jacket, and a North Face cap, as she picked up a coffee in West London.
While waiting outside Hagen Espresso Bar in Notting Hill, Eugenie stood beside Jack, who donned a vibrant bobble hat and was engaged in a phone conversation.
This sighting comes after extensive police activity at Andrew’s former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, triggered by his arrest last Thursday on allegations of misconduct in public office.
The former royal spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday, with officers conducting a search at his Sandringham property, before he was released pending further investigation.
Andrew is accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time as UK’s special representative for international trade and investment.
Following Andrew’s arrest, ex-US ambassador Peter Mandelson was also detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office yesterday before being released on bail.
Eugenie’s mother Sarah Ferguson has spent time in recent months in the French Alps, UAE and an exclusive clinic in Zurich – but her current whereabouts are unknown.Â
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank go out for a coffee in Notting Hill this morning
Princess Eugenie holds a coffee as she leaves Hagen Espresso Bar in Notting Hill this morning
Jack Brooksbank on the phone as he walks ahead of Princess Eugenie in Notting Hill today
Princess Eugenie is dressed casually in blue leggings, a jacket and a North Face baseball cap
Eugenie had been holidaying in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Gstaad with her family last week when her father was arrested – and is said to have been ‘in a state’.Â
Her parents Andrew and Fergie feature heavily among the three million pages of Epstein files which were released by the US Department of Justice last month.
Fergie’s emails to the paedophile financier revealed she took Eugenie and Beatrice to visit Epstein days after his release from prison for child prostitution offences.
Other messages from Fergie to Epstein even talked about Eugenie’s sex life, declaring in one that the princess had been away on a ‘sh*gging weekend’ when she was 19.
Eugenie was spotted in Switzerland last week by diners at the exclusive Restaurant Waldmatte in Gstaad, with Mr Brooksbank and their sons August and Ernest.
One who saw her at lunch told Hello!: ‘I was surprised to see her because I thought she would be keeping a low-profile in light of everything that has been going on.’
The Brooksbanks were with friends who had also joined them at the eaterie with a large terrace and impressive views of the Alps, although they opted to stay inside.
The 12th in line to the throne wears Nike trainers as she stands next to a car in London today
Jack Brooksbank speaks on the phone as Princess Eugenie leaves Hagen Espresso BarÂ
Princess Eugenie smiles as she gets into a waiting car on a road in Notting Hill this morning
The diner added: ‘Eugenie and Jack were with the children, the nanny and a group of friends. They were tucked away in a corner and casually dressed in ski gear and jackets, and Jack was wearing a beanie hat as they both browsed the menu.’
Earlier this month, Eugenie left the UK for Qatar where she appeared in public for the first time since the new Epstein files were released.
She is a director of art dealer Hauser & Wirth and was working at a high-end contemporary art fair in Doha.
Eugenie and Beatrice were previously said to be ‘aghast’ at their mother’s embarrassing tranche of emails to Epstein.
Sources close to the sisters also said they were ‘appalled’ and ’embarrassed’ about the photos of their father crouching over a mystery woman lying on the floor in Epstein’s New York mansion.
Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former duke of York is still eighth in line to the throne, and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew and prevent him from ever becoming king.
The UK Government is expected to consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother.
Separately, emails from the Epstein files show Fergie introduced her goddaughter to Epstein after his first stint in prison for soliciting prostitution from a child.Â
Jack Brooksbank wears a colourful bobble hat as he speaks on the phone in Notting Hill today
Princess Eugenie speaks to a woman as she stands next to a car in Notting Hill this morning
Jack Brooksbank holds a coffee as she leaves Hagen Espresso Bar in Notting Hill this morning
She gave the late sex offender contact details for Poppy Cotterell, the daughter of her former lady-in-waiting, adding: ‘Over to you! Lots of love.’
Fergie sent Epstein her goddaughter’s details on November 12, 2010 – 16 months after he was released from prison in Florida.
Epstein set up a meeting with the then 22-year-old, considered employing her and making a $100,000 donation in her name to a children’s health charity, emails reveal.
Ms Cotterell’s mother Carolyn was a lady-in-waiting to the former duchess and godmother to her eldest daughter, Beatrice.
On Saturday, the Mail revealed Fergie checked herself into the most expensive wellness clinic in the world as details about her close friendship with Epstein ruined her.
While Andrew was photographed repeatedly in Windsor and then on the Sandringham estate, Fergie has not been seen in public since last year.
​This prompted global speculation about where the former royal has been living – and the Mail established that, for much of the time, she has been sheltering in a famous Swiss clinic.
Fergie secretly took refuge in the world-renowned £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich over a month ago.
Following the prolonged stay at the clinic, thought to have lasted several weeks, the globe-trotting former royal is subsequently thought to have spent time in both the French Alps and the United Arab Emirates.