Bring Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie off the bench was a refrain I began to hear over and over again during my years co-hosting the Royally Obsessed podcast. That also brings me to my next point: Not only did Beatrice step out for the Elephant Family gala, we’ve been seeing a lot more of another lesser-known royal lately: Her sister, Princess Eugenie. Eugenie was recently announced as a mentor for the King’s Foundation’s 35 Under 35 initiative and the sisters, together, have been more vocal—and frankly, formal—about promoting royal patronages (like their joint role as honorary patrons of Teenage Cancer Trust). Heck, they’ve even been making more regular appearances at what I think of as signature events in the royal diary (everything from the Chelsea Flower Show to Buckingham Palace garden parties).
Bottom line: Someone seems to have given King Charles a note that looping in Beatrice and Eugenie, who are 9th and 12th in line to the throne, more is good for royal business—and I’m thrilled to see it. After all, anything that has the potential to humanize the royal family makes sense. Beatrice opening up about the premature birth of her daughter Athena; Eugenie helping others and bringing attention to anyone navigating a scoliolis diagnosis—it’s authentic and vulnerable, but most importantly, it brings people in.
It was a major loss when Harry and Meghan left for Canada first, then Montecito. And, regardless of your feelings about the monarchy they left behind, their royal shoes can’t be filled by William and Kate alone—there’s simply too much royal work to go around.
The move to include more of Beatrice and Eugenie not only lightens that load, it extends the glamour of the monarchy and lifts the spirits of royal supporters, too. While I thought this would be a decision relegated to when Prince William—who is close with his cousins and likely sees their potential—becomes king, it seems like Charles caught wind of it sooner.
Next stop, the royal balcony? Time will tell.