Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are reportedly "fighting to hang on" inside the Royal Family as Christmas approaches, with an insider claiming the sisters are taking steps to secure their place within the monarchy.
The York sisters' standing has come under scrutiny following headlines surrounding their mother, Sarah Ferguson, and father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, over their connection to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct, an allegation he strongly denies. Beatrice and Eugenie are not accused of any wrongdoing, but questions over their parents' controversial pasts have reportedly made their position within the Royal Family precarious.
Sisters 'fighting to hang on'
An insider told Closer: "There's a lot at stake right now, they're both fighting to hang on to their place within the monarchy and that pressure has definitely got them feeling competitive."
The source claimed the sisters are competing to outshine each other, doing a lot of "schmoozing" to stay afloat should the worst happen. Beatrice and Eugenie love each other dearly but have realised that always being seen as a package deal has not necessarily helped them, according to the source.
Concerns over William's reign
Beatrice and Eugenie are reportedly worried about what will happen when their cousin, Prince William, becomes king. The source said they worry about not being able to join the royals at Ascot or for Christmas at Sandringham, or losing their homes.
A National Audit Office (NAO) report into the Royal Family's property arrangements found that King Charles covers the rent for Beatrice and Eugenie's royal residences. Beatrice and Eugenie do not carry out official duties on behalf of the monarch, instead pursuing their own careers. Only members of the Royal Family who work for the King are exempt from paying rent on their official royal residences.
Rent arrangements under scrutiny
The York sisters should therefore pay rent on their royal homes. Beatrice maintains rooms in St. James's Palace while Eugenie uses Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace. The NAO report found in June that the rents were paid by the Privy Purse, the King's own money, in an arrangement established during Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing in the report. Buckingham Palace welcomed the publication, insisting it was "in line" with the Royal Household's commitment to transparency. News of the arrangement raised questions given that Beatrice and Eugenie have their own jobs and keep homes in the Cotswolds and Portugal respectively. The same report showed Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sub-let three properties at his former Royal Lodge home in Windsor, with the lease terminated amid the scandal surrounding his links to Epstein.
Closer's source suggested that the sisters' busy family and work lives mean they spend less time together. They said both love each other "enormously" but do not agree on how to handle the "upheaval" with the wider family. They claimed the sisters want to be "in the strongest possible position" when William ascends the throne.
