WHEN it comes to Prince William and Prince Harry’s “royal rift”, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have reportedly taken sides.
According to Bella Magazine, Prince Harry has drifted from his cousins in recent months, despite being close to them in the past.
A source alleged to the publication: “Beatrice and Eugenie have firmly pledged their allegiance to the royal family.
“They haven’t communicated with the Sussexes for quite a while. They are nowhere near as close as they once were.”
We recently saw Eugenie, 34, and Beatrice, 35, joking with Prince William, 42, as they soaked up the sun at Royal Ascot last month.
Both sisters also accompanied the Prince of Wales as he hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May.
Eugenie said of the event: “I was delighted to support my family to meet some special individuals at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party.”
Meanwhile, the sisters also supported Princess Kate at her Together at Christmas carol concert in December, before her planned abdominal surgery in January.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said of the public support: “This was unquestionably a show of solidarity with the heir to the throne [Prince William], who is currently not on speaking terms with his errant brother.
“Until it is resolved, Beatrice and Eugenie, who conceivably; could act as go-betweens, are undoubtedly supporting William.”
Eugenie was once described as being “best friends” with Prince Harry, 39, despite his fallout with William and King Charles.
The Sussexes are said to have made a “mega-secret romantic trip to Eugenie’s Portuguese resort without Archie & Lilibet” last year.
Princess Eugenie was handed the keys to Frogmore Cottage to stay with husband Jack Brooksbank during Covid lockdowns in 2020.
But the couple now split their time between Portugal and London due to his high-flying job.
Jack works in marketing and sales at a private resort near the village on the Alentejo coast, which is situated 80 miles south of Lisbon.
Eugenie struck up a friendship with Meghan before the Sussexes began dating and the trio were believed to keep in regular contact.
In his bombshell Spare memoir, Harry said of introducing Meghan to his cousin: “I remember Euge hugging Meg as if they were sisters.”
“Out of all the Queen’s grand-children, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections,” royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote in the Sussex biography Finding Freedom.
“Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest and great fun.
“The two had many nights out together in London, sneaking into back entrances of clubs, such as Mahiki, where Jack once was manager, or Tonteria, where in one of the VIP cave areas they downed shots from Mexican skull shaped glasses and a giant frozen margarita (with multiple straws).”
Over the years, the Queen‘s granddaughters have often spoken about their incredible bond and have previously described themselves as “each other’s rocks.”
Princess Beatrice was the first child born to the Duke and Duchess of York – Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson – back on August 8, 1988.
The Duchess gave birth at London’s Portland Hospital for Women and Children, and Beatrice’s full name was announced as Beatrice Elizabeth Mary almost two weeks later.
The couple – who divorced in 1996 – then welcomed Princess Eugenie, whose full name is Eugenie Victoria Helena, on March 23, 1990.
As a result of their close bond, it’s no surprise that back in 2018, as Eugenie made her way down to Windsor Castle for her royal nuptials, her maid of honour Beatrice was firmly by her side.
When asked about her maid of honour by TLC, Princess Eugenie said, “I can’t think of anyone I’d want by my side other than her.”
Nicknamed “Youj” or “Bouj” by her friends, the book also notes that like Harry, “Eugenie also struggled to carve out her own identity growing up”.
It adds: “Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life.
“Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends say that she gives great advice and has always been ‘beyond wise’ for her years.”
Eugenie spent time with Harry at the Super Bowl in Los Angeles in 2022 and was spotted in Montecito in February last year.
She is understood to be the first member of the Firm to make the 5,500-mile trip since the couple quit royal life in a bid for more privacy.
It was hoped that Eugenie could have acted as an intermediary between the Sussexes and the royal family.
Royal author Phil Dampier said at the time: “They’ve always got on very well and been very close so if there is going to be an emissary, or an intermediary, between Harry and the Royal Family back home, she could well fit the bill.”
