For years, Princess Eugenie quietly supported efforts to combat modern slavery through her work with Anti-Slavery International.
Now, that chapter appears to have come to an end.
The 35-year-old royal has stepped down after seven years as a patron of the London-based human rights organization, according to reporting by The Observer on March 8. The group confirmed the change in a brief statement, thanking Eugenie for her support and expressing hope she would continue advocating for freedom and justice in other ways.
Her profile has since been removed from the charity’s website.
Eugenie became a patron of Anti-Slavery International in October 2019, lending her voice to a cause that has long relied on public awareness and global advocacy.
The organization itself has deep historical roots. It was founded in 1839 by British abolitionist Thomas Clarkson and is widely considered the world’s oldest human rights organization. Today, its work focuses on modern forms of exploitation, including forced labor and human trafficking.
During her time as patron, Eugenie helped highlight the issue through public appearances and awareness campaigns.
Her departure has not been explained in detail, and neither she nor Buckingham Palace has publicly commented on the decision.
The change comes during a turbulent period for Eugenie’s family.
Her father, Prince Andrew, was arrested on Feb. 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his past connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing linked to his relationship with Epstein.
The case has revived intense scrutiny around the Duke of York and his family.
Eugenie, her sister Princess Beatrice, and their mother Sarah Ferguson were also mentioned in a recent batch of Epstein-related documents released earlier this year. None of the three has publicly commented on Andrew’s arrest.
Royal author Ingrid Seward said the controversy has inevitably affected the sisters’ public standing.
“They are tarnished by this,” Seward told reporters, adding that the situation has had a significant impact on their lives.
At the same time, a separate nonprofit founded by Eugenie is facing regulatory review.
The UK Charity Commission confirmed it is assessing concerns raised in the media about the finances of The Anti-Slavery Collective, an advocacy group Eugenie co-founded in 2017 with activist Julia de Boinville.
The organization works to raise awareness about human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Financial filings for the year ending April 2025 show the charity reported ÂŁ92,311 in income, including more than ÂŁ48,000 in donations. During the same period, it recorded ÂŁ301,024 in total spending, most of which went toward staff salaries.
The commission said it is reviewing whether the concerns warrant any formal regulatory action.
For public figures tied to the British royal family, charity work often plays a central role in shaping their public identity.
Eugenie, who has built much of her public profile around humanitarian causes, now finds herself navigating a complicated moment — balancing long-standing advocacy work with the renewed scrutiny surrounding her family.
For now, her departure from Anti-Slavery International closes one chapter of that work, even as questions around the broader situation continue to unfold.
