Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Princess Beatrice, daughter Sienna join disgraced former prince for horse ride

Royal watchers are shocked after Princess Beatrice unequivocally demonstrated support for her disgraced father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The pair were spotted on a horse ride in the Royal Mews at Windsor alongside Beatrice’s four-year-old daughter Sienna on January 25.

Andrew rode ahead, with Beatrice walking alongside Sienna’s horse who was led by a stable hand.

They moved from the Mews to the castle grounds where they spent about 45 minutes in Home Park.

Though Andrew must leave the Royal Lodge imminently, it is understood that Beatrice spent some time there as well, The Sun reported.

This comes after she and her family chose to spend Christmas without him, instead enjoying the season with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Sandringham alongside William and Kate.

When Andrew was stripped of his title in late October last year following fresh backlash for his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the royal family largely distanced themselves from him.

Though public opinion of Andrew had long been swayed by his connection to Epstein, it was Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl that resulted in King Charles stripping his brother of his title.

She alleged that Andrew raped her on three occasions, including when she was a minor after she had been trafficked by Epstein when she was just 16-years-old.

Three years before the memoir was published, Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre.

He was then removed from royal duties and stripped of most of his titles but it wasn’t until Ms Giuffre’s account was published that he reportedly said he would give up the title of the Duke of York.

There was an initial suggestion that Beatrice and Eugenie had decided to spend time apart from their father.

Weeks after the fallout, the Daily Express revealed that the pair had been spotted having a “heated” conversation on October 30, the same day Buckingham Palace confirmed Andrew would lose his “prince” title.

Nicola Hickling, a lip-reading expert, said Beatrice had made a vow to her sister, telling her “we’re in this together” and “don’t forget that”.

According to Ms Hickling, Beatrice also said “it’s going to get harder” and “we can’t do anything”. Eugenie reportedly said, “Everything is changing”.

Commentators speculated that the meeting was planned so that the public would see them united amid the scandal.

Footage of the pair embracing in the middle of the street went viral.

Since then, both princesses have returned to work and neither have made any public statement about Andrew.

According to The Sun, claims that Eugenie cut off all contact with her father are likely false as it’s understood she has visited him within the last few weeks.

“It is completely untrue she has cut him off,” a friend told the outlet.

“She has seen him several times this year and is supportive.

“She is there for her father whenever he needs her.”