King Charles' Butler Reveals What Princess Eugenie And Beatrice Are Like Behind Palace Doors
For Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the public controversies of their parents often overshadow their quiet loyalty to the Crown. Yet despite the many headlines, Eugenie has emerged as an unexpectedly grounded figure, at least according to those who have known her closely. A former royal butler, speaking with insight into Palace life, painted a unique picture of the Princess, one defined less by scandal and more by thoughtfulness and a kind-hearted demeanor.
As Eugenie celebrated her wedding anniversary with Jack Brooksbank on Sunday, October 12, Grant Harrold, who served as King Charles's butler from 2004 to 2011, opened up about what the 35-year-old royal is really like behind Palace doors. Harrold described Eugenie and her sister as “very kind and gentle.” He recalled, “Princess Eugenie and her sister Beatrice were always really nice. Whenever I dealt with them, they were very sweet and gentle. Always said their 'please and thank yous' and were very polite.” Far from being aloof or entitled, the Princesses, he says, “were extremely lovely young women, and were much loved members of the royal family.”
The butler’s observations extend beyond their upbringing to family dynamics. He revealed the devotion Charles has toward his nieces, noting that the monarch “is very fond of his nieces, and gets on with both of them really well. He will encourage them to come to family events, and he will want them to be included in those private family celebrations.”
Yet not everyone shares the same rosy view. Another Palace insider has described the sisters as products of a privileged and sheltered upbringing, pointing to incidents such as Beatrice’s BMW being stolen in 2009 after leaving it unlocked with the keys inside, as per The Mirror. The source remarked, “I think she was used to her police protection officer looking after such things.”
It was also reported earlier that Beatrice was keen on taking on more with there being few working royals after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit. A Palace source told the Daily Mail that Beatrice has long been “keen to help ease the burden on King Charles and Prince William by carrying out more royal engagements.” Such a willingness might have been especially welcomed in 2024, when both the King and Princess Kate faced cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other.
However, Palace aides reportedly remain cautious, especially given the fresh scandals of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Allowing Beatrice to take on official duties, they fear, could invite renewed scrutiny of her parents’ controversies. As the source noted, “She’s never put a foot wrong, don’t forget – and she shouldn’t be punished for the sins of her father. But the King’s courtiers are concerned Andrew could try to ‘get in via the back door’ by exerting influence over her.”
The insider suggested that Beatrice and Eugenie's decision to pursue careers outside traditional royal duties may have been influenced by circumstance as much as preference. “Whether you believe it was their decision [to not be working royals] or it was they and their father putting a brave face on things, he and they said they wanted careers instead of a life of ribbon-cutting. Andrew maintained it was their decision.”