Prince Harry has had opportunities to publicly support his cousins Princesses Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, but has not taken them, according to a columnist. Alicia Liberty argues that the Duke of Sussex's loyalty to his cousins appears one-sided, as they have consistently supported him while he has offered little in return during their recent family crisis.
Eugenie's Loyalty to Harry
For years, Beatrice and Eugenie have maintained a relationship with Harry despite his public criticisms of the Royal Family. Eugenie, 36, has remained close to Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, 45, while other relations have been frosty. She has balanced loyalty to her British family with keeping ties to the Sussexes in California.
When Harry moved to America, Eugenie visited him in California and was photographed with him at the Super Bowl in 2022, providing a public show of affection that has become rare between the Duke and his family.
Missed Opportunities
In July, Harry and Meghan enjoyed a family holiday in Portugal, where Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have strong ties. Eugenie was heavily pregnant and welcomed her third child, a daughter, in Lisbon on August 3. There was no public indication that the trip was arranged around seeing her, and no public reunion or show of support.
Following the arrest of their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in February, Beatrice and Eugenie were absent from the Royal Family's traditional Easter gathering. There was no visible effort from Harry to support them, despite his repeated talk of reconciliation and family.
Imbalance in Loyalty
Harry's relationships with his immediate family have not improved, despite King Charles's health problems and Princess Catherine's cancer battle. If he has not rebuilt bridges with them, it may be unrealistic to expect a gesture for his cousins.
However, Liberty notes that the imbalance is glaring. Eugenie has made public efforts to support Harry, but when the tables turned, there was no comparable public gesture from Montecito. Harry may have supported his cousins privately, but publicly, his absence during their crisis is difficult to ignore.
