Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are said to be reflecting on a challenging year while occupying what a royal correspondent described as the position their cousin Prince Harry once sought.
The past year has been difficult for the sisters following a series of scandals involving their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which ultimately resulted in him losing his prince and Duke of York titles as well as his military honours. This situation placed Beatrice and Eugenie in a delicate position, as they have remained loyal to their father while continuing to be viewed favourably by King Charles.
According to royal correspondent Simon Vigar, the sisters are in an “interesting position” because they balance public duties with private lives, operating in a way that is neither fully inside nor completely outside royal responsibilities.
Speaking on a podcast appearance, he said: “It’s been a devastating year for them. A devastating year for the girls I would have thought.
“They’re in an interesting position because they do public engagements, but they also have their private work and their private lives.
“They’re sort of half in half out, actually the thing that Harry wanted. Beatrice and Eugenie aren’t full time working royals, so they don’t quite have the public exposure that the others do.”
Vigar also suggested that the two sisters could play an important supporting role for Prince William and Princess Catherine in the future, especially as William is believed to favour a reduced working monarchy that may still require trusted family members to assist with public duties.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their departure from senior royal roles in 2020, they proposed dividing their time between the UK and North America while carrying out limited royal duties. That arrangement was later rejected, and they ceased being working members of the Royal Family.
Both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie ultimately joined the wider family for Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, while their father reportedly spent the holiday alone at Royal Lodge. Their decision surprised some royal observers, with one expert noting that the King remains very fond of the sisters and that they have been shielded from the fallout surrounding their father.
Despite the pressures of the past year, the sisters’ ability to maintain royal ties while pursuing private lives appears to reflect a balance that Prince Harry had once hoped to achieve.
