Growing up, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were never far from their favourite cousin Prince Harry’s side. But last week at the all-important Buckingham Palace Garden Party, the York sisters couldn’t have looked happier to be supporting another cousin – Harry’s estranged big brother, Prince William.
“Come rain or shine, I was delighted to support my family yesterday,” Eugenie told her 1.8 million followers on Instagram.
Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 34, have eagerly stepped up to the plate to help William and cancer-stricken King Charles with royal duties in their hour of need, and in doing so, they’ve all but shown their loyalty no longer lies with outcast Harry.
“Bea and Eugenie can’t imagine what William is going through right now and it was nothing short of an honour for them to give him some support,” a royal insider tells Woman’s Day of William, 41, who has been carrying on with royal duties solo as his 42-year-old wife Catherine is treated for cancer.
“The York sisters were determined to not let him down.”
TEAM HARRY NO MORE
Beatrice and Eugenie have long had a close bond with Harry, 39, with Eugenie even visiting him at his new home in the US in early 2022.
The following August, a family insider said the trio were “still the best of friends and talk constantly”.
But almost a year on, it seems the royal sisters have flocked to support William as they find their place in the royal pecking order – and prove they have what it takes to be invaluable working royals.
“They’re overjoyed to be unofficially back in the fold and taking a more prominent role in the royal family,” the source continues. “Beatrice has been flawless recently and the fact the palace greenlit her first TV interview last month indicates how she’s earned their trust.”
For Eugenie, however, it’s been slightly harder to show her loyalty lies with William and not with Harry and Meghan, who secretly visited Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank at their Portugal residence late last year.
“Ever since it emerged that she’d hosted Harry and Meghan in Portugal, Eugenie’s been on an unofficial blacklist,” the royal insider says. “But that was last year, and she’s worked hard to prove her commitment to the royals and didn’t reach out to Harry when she was in LA in February. That confirmed his worst fears that his last line to the family was over.”
BEYOND ‘BROWNIE POINTS’
But according to the source, the girls distancing themselves from Harry is about more than just earning brownie points with the senior royals.
“They’ve not had any contact with Harry all year – everyone’s focus right now is on getting Kate and William through this crisis,” the source explains. “Harry and his dramas are so far down the priority list.”
Amid reports William isn’t a fan of his father’s “slimmed-down monarchy”, the stage is set for Eugenie and Beatrice to play a more prominent role.
“Bringing back Beatrice and Eugenie makes sense right now – they’re always fun and can handle any situation with class,” says the insider. “William can see what an asset they are and he’s looking ahead to the future.”
