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Royalist: The York princesses are ‘innocent victims’ in their father’s horrible scandals

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In recent weeks, there have been dozens of horrible stories about Prince Andrew, all coming out of Andrew Lownie’s book about the House of York. I’ve skipped many of the most lurid stories, partly because I find the whole thing disgusting and partly because most of the terrible stories are decades-old and they’ve already been reported on and discussed ad nauseum. If there’s one optimistic note for the Yorks, it’s that people have thought that Andrew is a buffoon and a nonce for years, so few people are newly scandalized by these stories. Still, we’re going through another round of “poor Princess Beatrice and Eugenie” for some reason. Like, I don’t believe Bea and Eugenie should have to “pay” for their parents’ crimes, but they’re also grown women with families of their own, and it’s past time for B&E to distance themselves from their horrible father, not to mention the entire monarchy. Some highlights from Tom Sykes’ Royalist Substack:

Innocent victims: Friends of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have described them as “innocent victims” and “collateral damage” after Lownie’s book came out. One contemporary of the sisters exclusively told The Royalist: “All they have ever done is stand by their parents in the most horrifically public circumstances. I don’t think it’s fair to criticize them for that. They’re sweet girls who understand that they are immensely privileged, and have always been grateful for the privilege they’ve had, and have tried to use it to do the right thing. They were told to get jobs by the firm and they did that, so it seems unfair to attack them for making money.”

More from B&E’s contemporary: “It would be totally inaccurate to say they are devastated or heartbroken by the book, or any of this c**p that is going around, because there are absolutely no new revelations in it at all. It’s just a massive rehash of a load of things that have already been said by different people, brought together in one place. The family used to wonder when this would ever end; now they know it never will. It’s just, the tide comes in and the tide goes out. They deserve to be allowed to get on with their own lives. Beatrice has set up an AI business and Eugenie is a director at [art gallery] Hauser and Wirth, and she is extremely good at her job.”

A friend of Fergie: “Sarah has only ever tried to make a living for herself through her writing, something she is now doing, and they are all incredibly proud of her for it. The family have been pilloried and bullied by the British press for a generation, so they are well used to it by now. Sarah has seen it all before. She’s a tough old bird and I don’t think this latest series of revelations, which actually aren’t revelations at all, just a rehash of information that is already out there, will do very much at all. It’s interesting that so many of the people quoted are either anonymous or dead.”

Fergie & Andrew will not remarry: There have long been suspicions that Fergie and Andrew were happy enough with an open marriage, and that it was only the publication of those photographs that forced a divorce. These rumors have been fueled by the fact that the couple have continued to live together, apparently very happily, at Royal Lodge, Andrew’s home, ever since, appearing in many ways to be a married couple. I have been told they live in separate wings of the house. Rumors of remarriage have persisted, though friends regard them as tabloid fantasy, given they no longer have a romantic relationship and the attention it would attract.

York associates believe the whole thing will blow over: Speaking to several of Andrew and Sarah’s friends this week, I have been struck by how many of them think the controversy will quickly “blow over.”

[From The Royalist Substack]

I kind of agree with the “sources” that it will likely blow over. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or that we should breeze over the constant stream of depravity, arrogance and abuse from Andrew. I’m just saying that Andrew has always been lucky – his mother spent decades covering for him, and just when Andrew’s years of degeneracy were coming back into the public sphere in a big way, the entire British media and British establishment decided that the bigger story was “Meghan and Harry.” As for Sarah… she’s a survivor, she’ll find a way to survive in some form no matter what. Eugenie and Beatrice need to understand that there’s never going to be a moment when a current or future king will welcome them with open arms and want them to be “working royals.”

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red, Cover Images.

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Mail: Princess Eugenie & Beatrice only talk to their mom, not their dad, at this point

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In recent days, there have been several stories about Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and how they’re doing in the wake of Andrew Lownie’s book about their father and mother, Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York. The stories have the feel of Beatrice and Eugenie pushing back for their own sakes – while they have never publicly cut ties with their father, they really haven’t defended him in any way in years. That’s the point of this big Mail exclusive, which sounds like it was briefed from Beatrice or Eugenie’s publicist. Sources claim that while both princesses are still very close to their mother, they barely have anything to do with their father. Good.

A source close to the family told the Mail this week that Beatrice and Eugenie are ‘utterly mortified’ by Lownie’s book, especially its claims about their father. Although they’d been braced for its release, the reality – and the global furore it has stirred up – has been worse than they feared. ‘They’re keeping a distance from [their] dad,’ the source reveals. ‘The extent to how much the relationship can recover will depend on what further revelations, if any, emerge.’

With the book not out in full until next week, there may well be more to come. Ingrid Seward, Sarah Ferguson’s biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, says Beatrice – something of a ‘Daddy’s girl’ – will be finding the fallout especially hard.

‘She has always been close to her father,’ she explains. They will both be finding this very difficult – it’s a horrid time. But I’m not surprised they haven’t come out and said anything in his defence. For his girls to show their solidarity publicly wouldn’t benefit them in any way.’

Both York girls and their mother have remained steadfastly silent for most of the past decade, ever since allegations were first made about Andrew’s links to Epstein in 2015. In an Instagram post this week, eagle-eyed followers spotted Fergie’s choice of shoes: a pair of black loafers with the words ‘Never Complain, Never Explain’ – a favourite motto of the late Queen – embroidered on the front. It’s a mantra her daughters, too, seem to favour when it comes to their father. Not only do they have serious careers to pursue – Eugenie in art, Beatrice in tech – but both hold several charitable positions, not to mention having young children whom they will be eager to protect.

Beatrice has attended several engagements lately, and was spotted at the Lionesses’ victory parade in London, alongside husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, stepson Wolfie, eight, and their daughters, Sienna, three, and Athena, seven months. Meanwhile Eugenie, who lives in Portugal with husband Jack Brooksbank and their two children, August, four, and Ernest, two, has been busy entertaining A-list friends – namely singer Robbie Williams and his wife, Ayda Field – at her multimillion-pound villa.

But family friends say their silence isn’t just the sensible choice. Rather, it belies years of hurt and heartache the sisters had worked hard to overcome. Andrew was, throughout much of their childhood, an absent father. ‘He was away a lot – either as a serving naval officer or on royal duties – so they rarely saw him,’ a source tells the Mail.

He has, it seems, adopted a similarly ‘hands off’ approach to grandfatherly duties. ‘He gets hardly any practice,’ the source says. ‘These days, the girls are rare visitors to Royal Lodge [the £30 million Windsor estate where they grew up, and where Andrew lives on a royal lease, together with Fergie when she’s in the UK]. They spend most of their time raising families, pursuing careers and trying to be normal. Andrew isn’t completely ostracised, but arrangements to see Sarah usually take place elsewhere, and the girls seem keener that the King and other senior royals are part of their lives.’

[From The Daily Mail]

I remember the stories about Sarah’s cancer and how her daughters were making big efforts to spend a lot of time with her in Royal Lodge. I remember thinking it was so weird that there was no mention of Andrew caring for his ex-wife (who lives in the same house) or no expectation for all four Yorks to work together. My point is that, yes, it does seem like Bea and Eugenie are very close to their mother, and they’ve been distancing themselves steadily from their father in recent years. I’m really glad that Bea and Eugenie haven’t defended Andrew – good riddance. And he doesn’t even want to spend time with his grandkids? That’s honestly a blessing.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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Who was the best-dressed royal woman at Ascot’s Ladies Day?

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Here are some photos from Royal Ascot Day 3, Ladies Day (Thursday). Wimbledon used to do a “Ladies Day” as well, but they’ve stopped calling it that out of sexism concerns. Personally, I don’t find a “Ladies Day” at any event to be particularly sexist – it’s not like those are the only days where women are welcome, it’s just a day set aside in particular to celebrate women. All of which to say, the royal women made a point of coming out for Ladies Day. The royals in attendance on Thursday: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Zara & Mike Tindall, Prince Edward & the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice & Edo, Peter Phillips and Princess Anne.

I’m including an assortment of photos from Ladies Day. Surprisingly, the women made an effort to NOT look like the wrath of god. I even thought a few of the royal women looked really good. Zara Tindall was – gulp – my pick for best dressed of the day in her black-and-white Laura Green dress. Super-flattering, vintage-style yet classic. I also thought Beatrice looked rather stunning in her canary-yellow Monique Lhullier with a bold pattern. It’s always touch-and-go for redheads when it comes to pulling off yellow, but this is the right shade for Bea. Peter’s girlfriend Harriet Sperling also wore yellow, a more buttery shade. Harriet is getting a lot of attention for her style, which… okay, sure.

Duchess Sophie wore Suzannah London. I actually really like this print, although I think Sophie has issues with selected prints. Queen Camilla wore a blue/grey housedress with the Jardine Star brooch, one of QEII’s favorites. Cam looked like she was picking a wedge in some of these photos. As for Anne… bless her heart. She wore royal blue, with what looked like a dyed-to-match mosquito net on her head.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.

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Queen Camilla wore Dior, a terrific Treacy hat & a terrible expression at Royal Ascot

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Please enjoy these photos from Day 1 of Royal Ascot, which was Tuesday, June 17. While King Charles did not inherit his mother’s love of horseracing, he’s made an effort to attend as many days of Royal Ascot as possible now that he’s king. I think he enjoys it more because his wife, Queen Camilla, is such a racing fan and a horse person (like attracts like). It’s something they can do together, you know? He gets into the races more because she’s into them. And there was some kind of shocking result, because look at some of the faces they were making. Cam’s Botox is fighting for its life!

Charles wore the traditional grey morning suit, while Camilla wore a Dior tarp in pale green. While Camilla isn’t known for wearing structured designs, this Dior looks like an old bathrobe. That’s how she’s wearing it too. Camilla paired the Dior (eyeroll) with the Cullinan V diamond brooch and an especially bonkers Philip Treacy hat. I did take a moment to appreciate that spectacular hat – it is perfect for Ascot.

Also in attendance on Ascot Day 1: Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall, Lara Lopes (Camilla’s daughter), Peter Phillips, Duchess Sophie and Princess Anne. Anne and Peter rode in the royal carriages, while Zara, Lara and Bea just arrived like normal Ascot guests.

Fashion notes: Sophie wore Suzannah London (I don’t like it but it’s not awful), Zara wore Rebecca Vallance (boring), and Beatrice wore Beulah London gingham (loathe it).

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Photos courtesy of Getty, Backgrid, Cover Images.

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Prince William will want Beatrice & Eugenie to be working royals in his reign?

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As we’ve discussed, the York princesses are slowly making some moves within the royal family. Both Princess Eugenie and Beatrice went to the royal Easter service in Windsor this year. Princess Beatrice attended a fundraiser for Queen Camilla’s late brother’s charity. Princess Eugenie attended the Buckingham Palace garden party hosted by Prince William and Kate this week, and it was recently announced that she was donating her time as a mentor for the King’s Foundation’s arts project. There’s a lot of energy to bring the York princesses into the royal fold and have them act as backup to the rapidly ageing senior royals. Speaking of, Richard Eden at the Daily Mail basically got confirmation that Eugenie and Beatrice will likely have more to do when Prince William becomes king.

While the Duke and Duchess of York were bequeathed the Queen’s dogs, their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, inherited the monarch’s deep sense of duty. And there is increasing evidence that the sisters are preparing to take on more royal duties.

On Tuesday, Eugenie, 35, joined her cousin, Prince William, at the first garden party of the season that he and his wife, the Princess of Wales, hosted at Buckingham Palace. Her appearance came two days after a moving interview was published in the Sunday Telegraph in which she talked about undergoing spinal surgery at the age of 12 – and how it had inspired her to work as patron for the charity Horatio’s Garden, which aims to create a garden in every NHS spinal injury unit.

Eugenie – who has two sons, August and Ernest, with her husband Jack Brooksbank – has worked full-time for the art gallery Hauser & Wirth for ten years. But she has also managed to be patron of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and the Teenage Cancer Trust – a position she shares with her elder sister, Beatrice.

Beatrice, 36, who has two daughters, Sienna and Athena, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, a is a vice-president at software company Afiniti, as well as being involved in several charities including Outward Bound.

She and Eugenie are non-working members of the Royal Family, who are not funded by the taxpayer. But royal sources tell me that, with a smaller family circle after Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020, that may change in time.

‘Although Prince William still believes in a “slimmed-down monarchy”, he is increasingly aware of the hard work of his extended family,’ a courtier tells me. Indeed, this was the second consecutive year that the heir to the throne has invited his cousins to greet guests with him at a palace garden party. Beatrice had only missed the event to attend the Matrix Awards in New York for women in communications.

During her record-breaking reign, Queen Elizabeth was grateful for the tireless support that she received from her cousins. Just as some of them gave up rewarding careers to join ‘The Firm’ – such as the Duke of Gloucester who left his position at an architectural firm – perhaps Eugenie and Beatrice will eventually become full-time royals when William is King? Personally, I believe that would benefit the monarchy. While there is no question of Prince Andrew returning to public engagements, his daughters have a big role to play.

[From The Daily Mail]

Something similar happened last year, after William hosted a soggy AF garden party and many of his cousins came out to support him – suddenly, the courtiers were briefing everyone that William will definitely be counting on his cousins’ support when he’s king. It feels like… it’s beginning to dawn on William that it will all be on his shoulders, and his wife refuses to do anything, he chased off his brother and that bright, hot spotlight will not be very comfortable. Beatrice clearly wants more to do. But Eugenie has surprised me lately – she seems more willing to play the royal game.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid and Cover Images.

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Princess Eugenie was asked to be a mentor for King Charles’s new art project

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This year, the York princesses have been making moves to cozy up to their uncle, King Charles. Both Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice attended the Easter service in Windsor, and they were the two youngest royals there. Last week, Beatrice attended a fundraiser for the Elephant Family, which was set up in memory of Queen Camilla’s late brother. Camilla and Charles were in attendance, and Beatrice was the only other royal there. And now this – Charles’s foundation has asked Eugenie to take a mentorship role in its new scheme.

Princess Eugenie is to mentor the King’s pick of young creatives he hopes will promote change in the world over decades to come. The Princess, 35, met several of the 35 “changemakers” last week, including milliner Barnaby Horn, painter Jo Rance and knitwear designer Marie Bruhat.

It is hoped that Prince Andrew’s younger daughter, who is a director at Hauser & Wirth art gallery in Mayfair, will use her experience of the arts world to inspire and elevate their work.

The King’s Foundation last week announced its list of “35 under 35” who will act as charity ambassadors throughout its 35th anniversary year, flying the flag for the King’s beloved heritage crafts and the environment. The group – which includes a composer, an architect, several climate activists and a sustainable florist – joined forces for the first time on Thursday evening at a launch event at the Garrison Chapel, the charity’s central London base.

Dame Ann Limb, chairman of the board, said the foundation had been “surprised and overwhelmed” by the hundreds of applications from young people keen to align with the organisation and promote the King’s belief that everything in nature is interconnected, including ourselves.

[From The Telegraph]

I remember a royal woman who asked people to offer 40 minutes of mentorship for her 40th birthday. Who was that again? I guess it doesn’t matter. It just shows that even though she’s been gone from the island for five-plus years, ALL of the left-behinds watch and copy the Duchess of Sussex as often as they can. Anyway, it was nice of Eugenie to agree to this mentorship program and it was nice of Charles’s foundation to ask her. I guess. I wonder what all of this is really about, because Charles really doesn’t give a crap about his nieces.

Here’s a photo of Beatrice at the fundraiser last week – she looked lovely in a Rebecca Vallance gown and Chopard jewelry.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

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Prince Andrew was unsurprisingly welcome at the Windsors’ Easter outing

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For Easter Sunday, all of King Charles’s siblings came out for the service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. Neither of Charles’s sons came out, but hey, Charles got to see his brother Prince Andrew, who actually made it out for a “family occasion.” Andrew notably skipped Christmas at Sandringham last year, as did Fergie, but they both came out for Easter with their daughters and their daughters’ husbands. The Yorks and the Edinburghs were the most well-represented, actually – Sophie and Edward brought their son James, but it looks like Lady Louise was able to skip (she’s in college, maybe she was on vacation with friends). By the way, James might end up being one of the tallest of QEII’s grandkids. He’s now towering over his father and mother.

Anyway, as for the Yorks… I expected Andrew to eventually come to another royal event, and Easter is easiest for him since he lives right there at Royal Lodge. The message is the same as it’s always been: Charles and Andrew are mostly fine with each other, despite briefings to the contrary. Charles briefs everyone that he’s taking a hard line with Andrew and he’s really going to evict Andrew and then… nothing happens and Andrew is invited to the next holiday. I also think Charles appreciates the fact that Andrew’s daughters always welcome invitations to family events, much more so than William and Kate. Also: Andrew has gained so much weight in the past year.

Fashion notes… Beatrice wore a green Beulah London dress which looks a lot like several pieces in Kate’s wardrobe. I actually love Eugenie’s white trench coat from Reiss and her purse – which looks like a paper grocery bag – is really cool. Fergie wore Veronica Beard, and Sophie’s coat is Alaïa. Sophie is really overdressed, literally – she’s swimming in all of that fabric.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.