Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s steadfast support for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could impede their chances of assuming larger roles within the Royal Family, according to an expert.
The daughters of Prince Andrew joined their cousin, Prince William, at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday. Despite the damp weather, around 8,000 guests were invited to honor the contributions of volunteers, military personnel, and members of the public, with senior royals engaging with attendees.
Royal insiders revealed that William personally invited other “young members” of the Royal Family, including Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Peter Phillips, to join him for the day. King Charles and Queen Camilla, who hosted the first two garden parties this year, including one last week celebrating the creative industries, were absent from Tuesday’s event.
Rebecca English, Royal correspondent for the Daily Mail, noted in her column that William’s relatives were proud to support him at the event. She highlighted Beatrice and Eugenie’s presence as evidence of the Prince of Wales’ “easy relationship” with his cousins, as reported by the Mirror.
English wrote: “It’s a warmth that goes all the way back to fun family summers at Balmoral, Christmases at Sandringham, and now finds expression in the very modern medium of shared family WhatsApp groups.”
Eugenie and Beatrice, often seen at summer gatherings and Palace receptions, mingled with guests and appeared delighted to participate in the festivities, Ms. English noted.
For the occasion, Eugenie chose a white satin dress complemented by ’50s-inspired floral headgear, while Beatrice opted for a striking £750 Beulah dress in crimson, paired with a patterned headband.
The royal correspondent highlighted that the event sparked discussions about the evolving dynamics of the monarchy and the infusion of “much-needed vitality” by its younger members. Ms. English suggested that there is potential for Beatrice and Eugenie to step up within the monarchy, aligning with their father Andrew’s past aspirations for his daughters.
Nevertheless, Ms. English pointed out that despite the possibility of increased royal engagements, the sisters are unlikely to take on full-time duties due to their personal careers and young families.
Beatrice works with the American tech firm Afiniti, while Eugenie holds a directorial position at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth, alongside their commitments to Royal and charitable endeavors.
The royal correspondent remarked that despite being “badly needed,” the two sisters, along with Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, are less likely to be granted more permanent roles in support of the working royals due to a prevailing “deep concern” at Buckingham Palace that making such changes could favor Harry and Meghan.
According to Ms. English: “The Sussexes had been told very firmly by the late Queen Elizabeth that their preferred option of being ‘half-in, half-out’ royals while pursuing lucrative commercial careers was simply unacceptable.”
But since Harry and Meghan were forbidden from retaining their Royal duties whilst chasing commercial deals, this implies a strict “no relaxation of the rules” for any younger members of the Royal family.
Adding onto her initial statement, Ms. English said: “It is full time or nothing. The occasional garden party aside, more substantial roles for William’s cousins are out of the question for now, at least.”
Royal author Tom Quinn has suggested that Kensington Palace, the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, is reportedly concerned about Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie becoming closer to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. According to Quinn, Prince Harry feels that his cousins can relate to him the most given his current circumstances and his estrangement from his father and brother.
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, he stated: “There is serious concern at Kensington Palace that Prince Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie are becoming increasingly close to Harry and Meghan. Beatrice and Eugenie are moving across to what one Kensington Palace official described as ‘the dark side’.”
