Amid King Charles and Kate Middleton’s respective cancer battles, rumors began swirling that Princes William and Harry’s cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, could potentially become working royals in some capacity, even if just temporarily. As the daughters of disgraced royal Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the two have never been senior royals, and public relations expert Grayce McCormick doesn’t think it would be a good idea for them to start now. In fact, the founder of Lightfinder Public Relations thinks that if the sisters took on these new roles (were they to be offered to them), it could cause tension in the family.
“The emergence of new working royals may fuel comparisons and competition within the royal family,” McCormick told The Mirror. “It could potentially lead to internal tensions or conflicts that could damage the monarchy’s public image.”
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Another PR pro shared a similar sentiment, noting that their ties to Prince Andrew could also stir up some controversy.
“For Beatrice and Eugenie, there is also the ‘Prince Andrew factor,’” Luana Ribeira explained to GB News, referencing their father’s sexual assault allegations and relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, per Marie Claire. “Although they cannot be held responsible for the words and actions of their father, I think their current strategy of keeping their head down and quietly getting on with life is a wise one for them.”
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The princesses attended the Sovereign’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace last month, sparking the theories. Experts previously shut down the rumors saying the sisters have no intention of adding working royal to their résumés, though Prince William does plan to invite his cousins to more events going forward. Besides, the women are already booked and busy—Beatrice serves as vice president of strategic partnerships at tech firm Afiniti and Eugenie is the director of art gallery Hauser & Wirth. Not to mention, they’re both mums: Beatrice shares stepson Christopher “Wolfie” Woolf and daughter Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, while Eugenie is mother to sons August Philip Hawke Brooksbank and Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank.