The British royal family is facing a bit of a personnel crunch lately. With Princess Anne recovering from an accident, Kate Middleton on a health hiatus, and King Charles dialing back his engagements, a familiar face is stepping up to the plate: Princess Beatrice. While she’s not technically a working royal, Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter is suddenly filling in at some pretty high-profile events, leading many to wonder if we’re seeing the start of her transition into a more official role.
According to The Mirror, Beatrice’s latest favor for the monarchy saw her stepping in for her cousin, Prince William, at an Earthshot Prize event on June 25. William founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020 to address climate change and other environmental issues. It’s been a passion project of his for a while now, but he was tied up with an official state visit from Japanese Emperor Naruhito, so Beatrice took the reins this time. At the event, Beatrice was seen rubbing shoulders with investors and philanthropists, discussing water as an emerging investment theme.
This is pretty major, especially considering that Beatrice hasn’t typically filled in for the future king. To provide some extra context, Beatrice and her sister Eugenie are the daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson. Despite being granddaughters of the late Queen Elizabeth II, they don’t carry out official royal duties. This decision was made years ago, partly to streamline the monarchy and reduce public spending on the royal family. Their father’s controversies and subsequent step back from royal duties have further complicated their position within the family.
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But ever since Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, there have been whispers about strengthening the royal family’s ranks. Some palace insiders have suggested they need more hands on deck, while others claim Prince William and King Charles want to keep the core group small and tight-knit. A close friend of Beatrice and Eugenie previously shared some insights with the Daily Beast:
“It seems mean that the girls aren’t being used at all when they have made it clear they want to be of service, especially when Prince Andrew has been accepted back into the fold,” the friend said. “They have done nothing wrong and they shouldn’t be visited with the sins of their father. They are very upset to have been ignored by the king as they feel they have a lot to offer, but ultimately not surprised. They are sanguine about it.”
By this account, it seems the sisters are apparently eager to contribute, but King Charles hasn’t extended an invitation to join the working royal ranks just yet. However, Beatrice’s recent appearance might signal a shift in the royal strategy in the future. As Princess Anne, Kate Middleton, and King Charles continue to recover from their respective health troubles, it’ll be interesting to see how the palace balances tradition with the need for fresh faces and new energy.
