William’s Decision to Oust Beatrice and Eugenie May Be Supported by an Unlikely Royal: Expert
Following the latest release of the Epstein files, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's reputations have taken a hit, with critics no longer viewing them as victims but as supporters of their parents' actions. After emails exposing Beatrice's advice to her mother on repairing ties with Epstein surfaced, Prince William is said to be reconsidering his previously lenient stance. Weighing in on the same, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams believes that if William were to banish the York sisters from the Firm, he would be fully supported by his cousin, Zara Tindall.
In an article for the Daily Mail, Fitzwilliams suggested that Tindall would fully support her cousin and evaluate her own relationship with the Princesses to show her loyalty to the Crown. He said, "If it came to choosing, Zara and Mike would naturally support William and Catherine if William should feel the need to oust Beatrice and Eugenie." He added, "They are independent enough to do as they wish, but nobody should doubt that their loyalty, like that of Zara's indomitable mother, Princess Anne, is first and foremost to the monarchy at all times."
Shedding light on Tindall's future dilemma, if the Prince of Wales were to take a drastic action, the royal expert continued, "She [Zara] is a highly popular equestrian, and she and Mike have a special niche in the nation's hearts as he has a laconic, likeable style as well as being a former rugby captain. The Epstein Files have placed the royal family on the defensive, as it cannot anticipate what is to come." He noted that Beatrice and Eugenie are now 'into the line of fire,' especially for having visited the disgraced financier after his release from prison with Sarah Ferguson, when they were both allegedly adults at the time.
Similarly, in a Channel 5 documentary, Zara & Anne: Like Mother Like Daughter, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said, "When you've got a cousin that understands what it is to be a member of the royal family, but they don't have the same pressures associated with it, they can be a tower of strength and support." Moreover, Tindall is not only close to the Prince but also very close to the Princess of Wales, and the pair have been captured at various events laughing or sharing a deep conversation.
A previous report by the Daily Mail also alleged that William was evaluating Beatrice and Eugenie's future in the Firm. Commenting on their icy dynamic, a source spilled, "William and Kate don't appear to be close to either of the sisters. They haven't got that much in common." They also claimed that Eugenie's close bond with the Sussexes after they stepped down has kept Kate Middleton, in particular, on her guard. "William has made a point of inviting Beatrice and Eugenie, and other cousins, to help him host a Buckingham Palace garden party once a year. But there's no sign of him ever wanting his cousins to be taxpayer-funded working royals," chimed in an insider.