Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are facing a significant decision regarding their royal living arrangements following revelations about their rent-free accommodations, according to a royal expert.
Rent Row Details
The York sisters, daughters of Prince Andrew, have come under scrutiny after it emerged that neither personally pays rent for their homes in royal palaces, despite not being working royals. It was previously understood that they paid market rent for their London homes, with Beatrice residing in an apartment at St James’ Palace and Eugenie in a cottage within Kensington Palace grounds.
However, a new investigation by the National Audit Office has revealed that the sisters pay nothing, with the cost covered by the Privy Purse—the King’s private income from the Duchy of Lancaster.
Expert Reaction
The revelation sparked outrage, with Norman Baker, an expert in royal finances, calling the arrangements a ‘sweetheart deal’ set up by the late Queen. Now, royal expert Jennie Bond believes the report will force the princesses' hand.
Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, told the Mirror: “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.”
Prince William's Role
This comes amid reports that Prince William is ready to make changes to royal property arrangements when he becomes King. The Audit Office report also revealed that the princesses’ father, the former Duke of York, was allowed to sublet three cottages on his former Royal Lodge estate and keep the income, despite paying only a peppercorn rent.
Sources close to the Prince of Wales told The Times he wants to “look under the hood” of royal operations to ensure the institution is “fit for purpose in the modern era.” He is particularly conscious of public perception regarding non-working family members living in properties under favorable terms.
Family Bonds
Last weekend, William reunited with his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet in the Cotswolds. Despite William’s apparent hard stance on property, Bond believes he has “a lot of sympathy for his cousins.”
She added: “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 that made the news for many years. 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 for a long time now. And that must have taken its toll on their mental strength.”
