The Prince Andrew Effect: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie's 'Link' to Their Father Is Preventing a Royal Promotion
Prince Andrew is hindering a royal promotion for his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, according to an expert.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York cannot break away from their father Prince Andrew's scandalous shadow.
"If they did become working royals, and they do occasional work, which is fine, but the problem is, of course, the link with Prince Andrew, and, certainly, for the moment, it's unlikely that they would be asked to do more. It's simply a matter of gauging public opinion," royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told an outlet when describing the future of the princesses in King Charles III's monarchy.
"[Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie] are happy the way they are at the moment in the sense that they're happily married, they've got careers, and they've got families. But on the other hand, they would probably like to increase the amount of work they do," Fitzwilliams added.
The royal analyst further added how Andrew is not the only issue facing the princesses becoming working royals — the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant must also be considered when it comes to their potential security and travel costs. "Having said that, as working royals, they would get money from the Duchy of Lancaster," he continued when explaining any direct payments the pair would receive from the King's hereditary income.
"The palace is reviewing the patronages, and we'll have to wait for that review before we know anything. It just seems unlikely there's going to be a change for the time being," Fitzwilliams concluded.
Beatrice and Eugenie are 9th and 11th in line to the British throne, but their age, titles, and overall likability have been cited as reasons to promote them both to represent the Crown full-time. Not everyone seems to be a fan of Charles III's efforts to "slim down the monarchy," since a lack of working royals stretches representation thin both in Britain and the wider Commonwealth.
The King's sister, Anne, Princess Royal, spoke openly about the move in an interview that aired shortly before her brother was crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6.
"Well, I think the 'slimmed-down' [monarchy] was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment," the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II told an interviewer. "It changes a bit. I mean, it doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I have to say. I’m not quite sure what else, you know, we can do."
In King Charles III's reign, his wife, Queen Camilla, along with Prince William, Kate, Princess of Wales, Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, are the only royals that represent the monarchy. In a large country combined with 14 other nations in which Charles III is head of state, analysts feel that seven royals are not enough to ensure everything is covered.
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GBN interviewed Fitzwilliams.
