Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with their royal cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, has taken a noticeable dip. Known for their once-close bond, it’s becoming evident that the York sisters are now distancing themselves from the Sussexes — a move that might signal the end of one of Harry and Meghan’s last threads to the royal family.
For years, Beatrice and Eugenie were among the few royals openly supportive of Prince Harry and Markle. Eugenie, in particular, was considered very close, and there were reports in February 2023 that suggested Eugenie was moving to California to be closer to them. However, recent shifts in royal dynamics suggest this warm kinship is waning. According to insiders, “Beatrice and Eugenie have firmly pledged their allegiance to the Royal Family.”
So, what happened? The cooling off seems to stem from several incidents. For starters, the York sisters have taken on more significant royal duties as of late. With King Charles III and Kate Middleton both diagnosed with cancer earlier in 2024, the family’s workload has substantially increased, and Beatrice and Eugenie have stepped up to help.
The real kicker, though, appears to be tied to their mother, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. In an interview with The Telegraph in February 2023, Fergie started distanced herself from Meghan, stating, “I don’t really know Meghan. I haven’t really met her.” This statement came as a shock since, Markle had previously credited Fergie with teaching her how to curtsey to the late Queen.
A source disclosed, “Both Harry and Meghan were quite surprised by Sarah’s comments and couldn’t understand why she would distance herself like that. It has caused a bit of distance between the families.” This sentiment is echoed in the reports that the York sisters have not communicated much with the Sussexes lately. “They haven’t communicated with the Sussexes for quite a while now,” leaving many to wonder if the once-tight bond will ever be restored.
Princess Eugenie’s recent actions have also been telling. She didn’t reach out to Prince Harry during a visit to Los Angeles in February, and she skipped attending the Invictus Games earlier this year.
Despite these signs of estrangement, there are moments that suggest a lingering bond. For instance, Eugenie reportedly gave a subtle sartorial nod to Markle, wearing an outfit that bore resemblance to her style at the Duke of Westminster’s wedding back in June. However, these small gestures don’t seem like enough to bridge the growing gap between the families.
The insider insight continued, “Eugenie and Jack are very careful about what they say to friends because they don’t want to be seen as bad-mouthing Harry or Meghan.” There’s still a friendship, but it’s not the close family bond it used to be. “They are nowhere near as close as they once were,” the source added.
As Beatrice and Eugenie deepen their commitment to the crown, it looks like their relationship with the Sussexes could be a thing of the past — or something Prince Harry brings up in his second memoir.
Click here to see a complete timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s feud with the royal family.
