King Charles expels Beatrice and Eugenie from royal houses
King Charles has initiated measures to end Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s housing arrangements. Officials are said to have written to both women urging them to find alternative accommodation in London as the monarch continues his efforts to reshape the royal estate.
RadarOnline.com can reveal that the 77-year-old monarch has ordered aides to review the use of royal residences occupied by members of the wider family.
Beatrice, 37, currently has access to an apartment at St James’s Palace, while Eugenie, 36, is linked to accommodation on the Kensington Palace estate. Palace insiders told us that royal officials first contacted the sisters last year and repeated the request several months ago, encouraging them to make other arrangements during visits to London.
The move comes amid King Charles’ wider plans to streamline royal activities and make more efficient use of palace assets.
A palace aide said: ‘Senior royal officials have made it increasingly clear that the housing arrangements Beatrice and Eugenie currently enjoy are not considered a permanent right. The sisters were told that, as part of a wider reassessment of the way royal properties are allocated and used, they would have to explore other options for when they need a base in London.
‘There is a growing feeling within the household that palace residences should be used in a way that better reflects the King’s long-term plans for the institution.
“Those involved insist that this is not about punishing the Princess or making a statement about their personal conduct. The decision is being framed internally as an administrative and operational matter linked to wider changes taking place at the royal estate. However, no one is pretending that the implications are insignificant.”
The palace aide added: ‘For Beatrice and Eugenie, the loss of access to these arrangements would mark a symbolic shift in their status and underline the reality that they are no longer considered central figures within the working structure of the monarchy.
‘Behind the walls of the palace, it is also accepted that these changes will inevitably fuel speculation about where the York family now fits in King Charles’ vision for a leaner and more streamlined Royal Household. While officials may describe the move as a practical housekeeping, it sends a strong message about priorities and who is expected to occupy the royal properties in the coming years.”
Officials are said to be considering converting Beatrice’s apartment into expanded office space as part of plans to accommodate growing domestic operations.
Eugenie’s cottage, meanwhile, is considered suitable accommodation for a senior member of staff as safety restrictions would make commercial rental difficult.
The developments coincided with growing concerns from Princess Anne, 75, about what she sees as the increasing marginalization of her nieces following the fallout from controversy surrounding their father, the former Prince Andrew, 66, and his association with pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Beatrice and Eugenie have been noticeably absent from several major royal functions in recent months, including the Chelsea Flower Show in London, and reports suggest they will not be included among the members of the royal family set to appear at Royal Ascot this summer.
One source said: ‘Anne’s view is that Beatrice and Eugenie have effectively become collateral damage in a situation that was never of their own making. She believes they have carried themselves with remarkable grace through years of uncomfortable headlines and public criticism, but still face the fallout from controversies related to other members of the family, rather than anything they have done personally.
“From Anne’s perspective, there is a real sense of injustice at the way the sisters are now effectively frozen out of the family. She feels that they have remained loyal to the institution, avoided trouble and worked hard to uphold their own reputations, but doors are still quietly closing on them due to circumstances completely beyond their control.”
The insider added that Anne is particularly concerned about what she sees as attempts to distance the sisters from important royal engagements and public events.
Palace sources say Anne’s stance has created tension with 78-year-old Queen Camilla, who is said to favor a more limited public role for members of the York branch of the family.
A palace source said: ‘Anne has never been the kind of person to simply nod when she makes a decision she believes is wrong. Throughout her life, she has built a reputation for speaking her mind, and if she feels someone is being treated unfairly, she is more than willing to voice her concerns, no matter how unpopular that may make her in certain circles.”
The latest disagreement comes against the backdrop of the ongoing debate over Andrew’s future position within the monarchy, with reports suggesting that Anne and Prince Edward, 62, have both advocated a more compassionate approach to the Duke of York behind the palace walls.
