Prince William looked dapper in a morning suit and top hat as he hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 21st on behalf of his father, King Charles.
Meanwhile, his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, remains out of the public eye as she undergoes cancer treatment. To assist with hosting duties at the afternoon festivities, the Prince of Wales invited some of his cousins, including Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, and her husband, Mike Tindall. This rare outing highlighted the next generation of the royal family.
Princesses Eugenie and Zara coordinated their outfits in pink and white ensembles, while Peter and Mike looked sharp in top hats and suits. Although Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren are often seen together at family events like Christmas, they are not working members of the royal family. Instead, they hold regular jobs while supporting various charitable causes. Not in attendance at the garden party were their two youngest cousins, 20-year-old Lady Louise, who is studying at the University of St Andrews, and 16-year-old James, Earl of Wessex. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Queen Elizabeth's first cousin and his wife, also attended the event.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie appeared to send a clear message to their cousin Prince Harry by showing their support for King Charles and Prince William at this event. While the York sisters have remained neutral in the feud between the Sussexes and the Firm, they have demonstrated their loyalty to the current monarch and his heir. Despite Eugenie's close relationship with Harry and Meghan Markle, as evidenced by her visit to their Montecito home in California and her friendly chat with Harry at the king's coronation last May, the sisters have recently distanced themselves from Harry.
One notable example is their absence from Harry's Invictus Games service in London on May 8th. A royal commentator suggested that Beatrice and Eugenie avoided the event to prevent further tension within the royal family. Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News that the sisters' absence was likely to avoid signaling a split in the royal family, as it would have been problematic to have some royals attend and others not. The expert added that although the York sisters remain close to Harry, they would not attend such an event without King Charles's permission.
There has been speculation that Eugenie could act as a peacemaker between Harry and the rest of the royal family due to her close relationships on both sides. Former royal butler Grant Harrold mentioned that Eugenie has always been close to both William and Harry and would likely try to mediate between them if possible. He emphasized that Eugenie cares deeply for her cousins and would undoubtedly attempt to help reconcile them if she could.
Overall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's recent actions suggest a strong alignment with King Charles and Prince William, indicating their support for the current royal structure during these challenging times.
