Royal Survivors: Beatrice & Eugenie

The ups and downs of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are well-documented. Ingrid Seward biographer of Sarah Ferguson and long-time friend of Fergies family gives her insider report on the most modern royals of all

- Ingrid Seward

We all remember when, back in 1986, Prince Andrew became the Duke of York upon his marriage to Sarah Ferguson. When his two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, were born in 1988 and 1990, they were the queen’s only grandchildren to carry the title of princess – her gift to her favourite son. Their father – and many of us – imagined that a lifetime of royal duties awaited the girls. But the modern world intervened, and the girls – neither of whom receive any public funds – were obliged to find employment while still shouldering the responsibilities of being royal.

While still young, the girls were faced with that most modern issue – divorced parents. Andrew was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and his duties meant that for much of their early married life, the Duke and Duchess of York were apart. Left on her own at the mercy of the palace hierarchy, who gave little help, Fergie crashed from one blunder to another.

First there was Royal Ascot when she and Diana were photographed poking a friend’s bottom with an umbrella, which the palace considered improper behaviour. Then there was a private dinner in New York when she ‘knighted’ her host’s dog with a butter knife. The final straw for the palace was when she and Diana played at pushing each other down the slopes during a photo call in Switzerland. The palace blamed Fergie for immature behaviour, and it decided she was the source of all ​trouble – the queen’s private secretary summoned her to his office and smoothly insinuated it wasn’t the way a royal duchess should behave. Being the Princess of Wales and the senior royal, Diana never got the blame. Fergie had no one to turn to for advice as to how to handle things – when she needed Andrew most he couldn’t be there.