Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie Are Being “Kept on Ice” for Future Working Royal Roles

The York sisters may see their role within the working core of the royal family expanded in the future, a royal biographer said.

Key Points

• Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s potentially expanding role in the royal family remains up for discussion.
• Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said that, while King Charles prefers a “slimmed-down monarchy,” Beatrice and Eugenie’s roles could be upped within the royal family when Prince William takes the throne.
• For now, the York sisters are being “kept on ice,” Seward said.

An ever-present question when it comes to the royal family: will Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie ever have expanded royal roles?

The York sisters—both daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson—currently both have full-time jobs outside of the Firm, but have been known to be brought in on occasion to help support the royal family, like at Buckingham Palace garden parties and other staples in the royal diary. Beatrice is ninth in the line of succession to the throne and Eugenie is 12th—and, according to one royal biographer, could have expanded roles within the royal family when their cousin Prince William takes the throne someday.

“When William ascends the throne, Beatrice and Eugenie will be valuable assets, and I’m certain they will get involved with royal duties,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward—who is also the editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine—told Hello!. “It makes perfect sense, because he will need them.”

“I see them as sort of a double act, working together in the same way as married couples do,” Seward added. “Two gorgeous princesses working together as sisters would be very powerful. I think it would be wonderful, and I think it will happen.”

Like William, King Charles is a fan of the York sisters—recently naming Eugenie as a mentor for The King’s Foundation’s new 35 Under 35 network. Last month, Beatrice joined the King and Queen Camilla for an important fundraising event on behalf of Elephant Family, a conservation charity founded by Camilla’s late brother Mark Shand. Beatrice also serves as one of seven Counsellors of State appointed to undertake official duties on behalf of Charles should be prevented from doing so “by illness or while overseas,” Hello! reported.

These appointments could be a sign of what’s to come, Seward said: “I think they would be open to doing more, because they like to give back,” she said. “They have always been close to William, and the King is very fond of them, too.”

Alluding to the King’s desire for a “slimmed-down monarchy,” Seward said Beatrice and Eugenie’s expanded role will likely have to wait for a new figure on the throne. “Having slimmed down the monarchy, I don’t think he [Charles] will change his mind, so I think he will leave it to William to bring them into the fold,” she said. “I think they’re being kept on ice.” She added that they would likely be “working very hard doing philanthropic work, but not taking center stage,” adding, “But I think they could be much higher profile than they are now, and maybe even have their own charity or foundation.”

“I think people see them as a couple of really charming, young, married women who are relatable and aren’t entitled,” Seward continued. 

Beatrice has three children—two daughters from her marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and a son from his previous relationship—and currently works as a vice president at U.S. tech company Afiniti. Eugenie is the mother of two boys with husband Jack Brooksbank and is a director at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth; both Beatrice and Eugenie are also deeply involved in charitable organizations.

“They both believe in the institution and what the royal family represents and have always been willing to do their bit and support it if they can,” a York family friend told Hello!. “They’re fond of their cousins and that sense of duty is something they believe in. Despite having commercial careers, to their credit, they haven’t put a foot wrong. It’s always difficult for members of the family who are half-out, but they have done it blamelessly.”

“They have full-time jobs and families, and I think they like the balance they have in terms of being career women and mothers while also being able to do their bit to support the royals,” the friend added. “Whether at some point that changes, I don’t know. Once the Prince of Wales is on the throne, he’ll have his own decisions to make, but I don’t think it’s something that either of them is pushing for at the moment. They are lovely, charming young women—everyone who knows them says that. They are a credit to their parents and to the family, and it’s obvious that that’s being appreciated a bit more at the palace.”

If one sister has an expanded role in the royal family, one can expect that the other will, as well. The sisters are extraordinarily close, with Eugenie previously saying, “Beatrice and I, we’ve always had each other. We’re the only ones going through exactly what the other is going through at exactly that time as a girl—in our family, our place of work. Whatever it is.”

“I think that’s extraordinary,” she continued. “We’re not twins, yet you go through life knowing exactly what the other one is going through. She’s my big sissy. She’s a legend. She’s annoying when she wants to be and I’m annoying to her back, but we love each other. Best of friends.”