Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice will remain as non-working members of the Royal Family as King Charles is concerned that their lavish lifestyles will draw criticism, a royal historian has claimed.
Prince Andrew's daughters are patrons of various charities and often attend royal celebrations like Trooping the Colour, but they do not carry out engagements on behalf of the Royal Family.
Dr Ed Owens, a royal author who recently published the book After Elizabeth: Can The Monarchy Save Itself?, spoke exclusively to GB News to explain why Beatrice and Eugenie have not been utilised by King Charles as working royals.
He said: “Both daughters of Andrew are more like their mother, Sarah Ferguson and the way that she was a public figure as a member of the working Royal Family, rather than Princess Anne for example.
Beatrice and Eugenie at the King's Coronation
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“They take lots of holidays and it's never certain who exactly is paying for those holidays.
“They don’t come across as hard-working dutiful princesses."
The royal historian explained to GB News how the princesses have been portrayed in the media, and how this has impacted King Charles's firm position to not employ them as working royals.
Owens continued: “They haven't presented themselves, both Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice as particularly dutiful figures.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie celebrating the Platinum Jubilee
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“They've been classically accused of behaving, as royal-hangers-on have traditionally behaved, as enjoying the wealth, privilege and power of monarchy without doing the hard work.
“So they're more like their mother was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sarah Ferguson, than their aunt Anne.
“That is the comparison I would make."
King Charles, 74, became the monarch in September 2022 and has since embarked on his longtime ideal of a slimmed-down monarchy.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie often attend major royal events
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This was evidenced by the Buckingham Palace balcony at the most recent Trooping The Colour, which consisted of just the King and Queen, the Waleses, Prince Edward and Sophie, Princess Anne, the Gloucesters, and the Kents.
Owens argued that Beatrice and Eugenie as working royals would lead to "criticism" directed towards the monarchy.
He explained: “The King is very concerned about criticism being levelled at the Royal Family regarding the royal indulgence of members of the family, that haven't earned the privilege because they haven't done the work.
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Beatrice and Eugenie at the memorial service for Prince Philip in 2022
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“And that's the classic case with Beatrice and Eugenie.”
Princess Eugenie is celebrating her fifth wedding anniversary today with Jack Brooksbank.
But the 33-year-old and her older sister Beatrice will likely be evicted from their bases at Frogmore Cottage, according to reports.
