A Bea in her bonnet!
Why the princess has turned her back on the runaway royals
Spare a thought for Princess Beatrice, who has found herself stuck in the middle of some awkward family dynamics. Questions have been raised about just how well the York side of the royal family gets on with the Sussexes, and while her mother and sister have made it clear they have opposing loyalties, Beatrice, 34, appears to be caught between them.
Suggestions that all is not rosy between Harry and Beatrice’s families arose after her mum, Sarah, Duchess of York, 63, told an interviewer she “didn’t really know” Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Many people found that puzzling as she’s met Meghan on numerous occasions, and her youngest daughter Princess Eugenie gets on very well with cousin Harry, 38, and his wife.
Eugenie has been extremely supportive of the couple since they moved to California, visiting them there several times. Meanwhile, she and husband Jack Brooksbank, 36, and son August, two, have stayed on and off at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, which until recently was Harry and Meghan’s UK base.
That’s led to questions about where Beatrice stands and speculation that she has shied away from developing a friendship with the Sussexes. Some royal insiders have suggested that’s because she can’t forgive them for walking out on their royal roles.
“Beatrice has always been fiercely loyal to the Queen, even choosing to adapt one of her grandmother’s gowns to use as her own wedding dress,” points out a source. “The fact that Harry and Meghan caused hurt to Her Majesty by leaving the family may be something she finds hard to sanction.”
To further complicate matters, one of Beatrice’s closest friends, fashion designer Misha Nonoo, is best pals with Meghan, 41, and in fact introduced the American to Harry. Beatrice has been at numerous events also attended by Meghan and Misha, 38, but always seemed to keep her distance.
Beatrice has never spoken out on anything to do with Harry and Meghan, but like her mother and sister, was believed to be upset when they announced to family at Eugenie’s wedding that they were expecting their first child, thereby “stealing the bride’s thunder”.
“Beatrice may well have an issue with Meghan, but we might never know, as she is very private and discreet,” tells the insider, adding that it’s a shame if they don’t have anything to do with each other as their daughters Sienna and Lilibet, who will both turn two this year, are only three months apart in age. “It would have been nice for the girls to grow up close to each other, but it seems highly unlikely that will happen.”