Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have sparked controversy after complaining about the difficulty of balancing careers with royal duties. In an interview with Vogue magazine, the sisters, who are eighth and ninth in line to the throne, said they face unique challenges as 'young women trying to build careers and have personal lives' while being princesses in the public eye.
The Duke of York's daughters are not entitled to taxpayer-funded salaries as they are not official working royals, a decision said to have disappointed their father. Instead, they pursue private careers: Beatrice works as a vice-president of a technology company, while Eugenie is an associate director of an art gallery. They claim juggling these roles with royal engagements is tough, with Beatrice noting, 'It's hard to navigate situations like these because there is no precedent.'
Critics have pointed out the sisters' privileged upbringing, including private education costing over £400,000 and a £1.4 million trust fund set up by the Queen. Their estimated net worth is around £3.6 million. They previously lived in a four-bedroom apartment in St James's Palace, refurbished with £250,000 of taxpayers' money, paying a heavily discounted rent of £20,000 per year. Eugenie recently moved into Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace, also at a reduced rent.
The sisters' taxpayer-funded police protection was withdrawn in 2011 to cut costs, and Eugenie was reportedly told she could not have her wedding in September due to other royals' commitments. Despite these grievances, many view their complaints as out of touch, given their immense wealth and privilege.
