Princess Eugenie has had a bit of a back-and-forth approach when it comes to supporting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Before Harry and Meghan decided to step away from royal duties in January 2020, Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, were pretty close with the Sussexes. The two even hopped over the pond (and then some) to fly all the way out to California to visit the two.
But by June 2024, things changed. Eugenie and her sister Beatrice took on more royal duties as both both King Charles III and Kate Middleton underwent treatment for their respective cancer diagnoses. As their royal responsibilities increased, there was a noticeable drift from Harry and Meghan.
Fast forward to September 2024. Kate Middleton has completed her chemotherapy and plans to slowly but surely returning to public engagements. But recent reports suggest that King Charles not only wanted them to take a step back from helping out during his and Kate’s cancer battles, but had previously had considered downgrading Eugenie and Beatrice’s titles from Princesses to Ladies. This, along with her “kind and peaceful soul,” is why royal insiders are saying Eugenie is reportedly warming back up to the Sussexes and trying to bridge the gap within the family.
“Eugenie is a kind and peaceful soul, she hates all this tension and goes out of her way to play up positives wherever possible,” an insider shared with InTouch Weekly. Her strategy to helping the royals shift their perspective? Emphasizing Harry and Meghan’s charitable contributions and reminiscing about happier times before they left their royal roles. “That includes delicately reminding people at the top of the Firm how hard Harry and Meghan work for charity, bringing up anecdotes and photos from the good times pre-Megxit, and sticking up for her dad any chance she gets, too,” the insider added.
In her quest to mend family ties, Eugenie has reportedly found support among some family members. “The likes of Kate, William and Camilla appreciate that [Eugenie] has a big heart and they’re by no means shooting her down or telling her to stop associating with the Sussexes if that’s what she wants to do,” the insider continued. Still, it seems like King Charles himself has expressed some interest in finally putting this whole feud behind them.
Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice has also been proactive, as a palace insider revealed that she has “spoken to the two brothers to try to improve the situation.” Yet, despite these efforts, the core members of the royal family remain unmoved. “But they’re not being swayed by Eugenie, Beatrice or anyone else when it comes to the Sussexes or Andrew,” the insider noted. For most of the royals, “there’s just too much mud under the bridge.” Only time will tell if Eugenie’s efforts pay off — or if her warm feelings towards the Sussexes will swing in back in the opposite direction, as it has in the past.
Click here to see a complete timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s feud with the royal family.
