Prince William's relationship with his cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie has been subject to much speculation, but former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes one moment made the Prince of Wales's feelings about his relatives clear.
At the wedding of Peter Phillips to his new wife Harriet, the Royal Family turned out in force. As they gathered outside the church, Prince William was seen warmly greeting his cousins, giving Beatrice a kiss on the cheek. This gesture has been seen as significant amid continued speculation about William's relationship with his cousins, given the scandal surrounding their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Jennie Bond's Analysis
Speaking to the Mirror, Bond said: "I think there's an interesting comparison to be made between the way William greeted his cousins at the wedding and his obvious contempt for their father at the Duchess of Kent's funeral. William does sometimes seem to wear his heart on his sleeve, so I think we can conclude that he doesn't hold Beatrice and Eugenie responsible in any way for their parents' sins."
She added: "He knew the cameras were there, and he made a point of greeting them warmly. It must have been quite emotional for the princesses, who were already braving the lion in the den by appearing at such a high-profile event."
Ongoing Scrutiny
In recent months, Beatrice and Eugenie have faced headlines about their father, the former Duke of York, and their mother, Sarah Ferguson, and their association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The princesses also faced scrutiny when their names appeared in the recent Jeffrey Epstein files, though being named does not imply any wrongdoing.
Bond noted: "I'm sure William has a lot of sympathy for his cousins. He knows exactly what it's like to be the child of parents who are constantly in the headlines – in his case, it was the breakup of Charles and Diana's marriage. He also cares a great deal about mental health, and I'm sure he will appreciate that Beatrice and Eugenie have been under immense pressure."
Royal Property Arrangements
Last week, it emerged that neither Beatrice nor Eugenie personally pays rent for their homes in royal palaces, despite not being working royals. A National Audit Office investigation showed that the sisters do not pay anything, with the cost covered by the Privy Purse. This comes amid reports that Prince William is ready to make changes to royal property arrangements when he becomes King.
Bond explained: "I still don't think that William will invite Beatrice and Eugenie to carry out official royal duties in the future. I think he's right to keep the core group of working Royals as tight as possible because of the implications for the public purse. And I suspect that neither of the princesses will be living in Royal palaces in the future – or, if they are, I think it will be made clear that they are paying their own market value rent."
