There have long been rumors about Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie joining the Firm as working royals someday, despite both having professional careers outside of the working core of the royal family.
The York sisters—the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson—may not be full-time working royals like Prince William or Kate Middleton, but they often support the royal family at occasions like Buckingham Palace garden parties. Beatrice serves as a Counsellor of State for her uncle King Charles—meaning that if for whatever reason he is unable to perform his duties or is abroad, she could be called to step in for him—and Eugenie has recently been tapped as a mentor for The King’s Foundation’s new 35 under 35 network. Many would be thrilled if Beatrice and Eugenie elevated their royal role—but there is a drawback, one royal commentator shared.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie on September 14, 2023.
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It’s unclear whether Beatrice and Eugenie will join other members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour on June 14, as they used to when their grandmother Queen Elizabeth was on the throne, and when their father, the Duke of York, was still a working royal. Following Andrew’s disastrous 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, his allegations of sexual assault, and his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—not to mention more recent allegations of a friendship with a Chinese spy—Andrew is no longer a working royal and, beyond that, has a deeply tarnished public reputation. Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to GB News about why any potential future decision to include Beatrice and Eugenie could cause a “huge problem” for Charles—which is unfair, considering that neither woman has ever really put a foot wrong.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie on April 11, 2024.
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Including the sisters “would bring into focus the fact that Andrew does not appear, and anything to do with him is still too toxic,” Fitzwilliams said. “Unfortunately for the Yorks, there is a problem, a huge problem, and it would send a message that would not be appropriate at the moment.”
That said, even after all of his scandals, Andrew has still attended royal family Easter services, though he still remains largely absent from public life. Even if Charles doesn’t include Beatrice and Eugenie in large-scale royal events during his reign, there seems to be hope left on the table that William could when he takes the throne.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie at a Buckingham Palace garden party on May 21, 2024.
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“When William ascends the throne, Beatrice and Eugenie will be valuable assets, and I’m certain they will get involved with royal duties,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward told Hello!. “It makes perfect sense, because he will need them.”
“I see them as sort of a double act, working together in the same way as married couples do,” she continued. “Two gorgeous princesses working together as sisters would be very powerful. I think it would be wonderful, and I think it will happen.”
Beatrice currently works as a vice president at U.S. software company Afiniti, while Eugenie is a director at the London art gallery Hauser & Wirth; both are also raising young families. That said, when it comes to the royal family, “I think they would be open to doing more, because they like to give back,” Seward said. “They have always been close to William, and the King is very fond of them, too.”
Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, and Prince William.
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The consensus seems to be that, while adding more working members of the royal family doesn’t necessarily fit in with the King’s desire for a “slimmed-down monarchy,” it could happen under William’s reign: “I don’t think he [Charles] will change his mind, so I think he will leave it to William to bring them into the fold,” Seward added. “I think they’re being kept on ice.”