Prince William ‘bans’ Beatrice and Eugenie as working royals

The insider added: ‘William’s feeling is that the monarchy simply cannot survive the mixed messages when it comes to the York scandal and the damage it has done to public confidence.

“He believes that there should be a very visible and consistent separation between the institution and anyone affected by those consequences, even indirectly. From his perspective, there is a risk that Beatrice and Eugenie will continue to appear at major royal functions, mingle with senior royals and participate in prestigious public events, blurring the boundaries the family has tried to establish for years.

“He fears that the public could come to think that the Palace is quietly rehabilitating the Yorks through the back door, and that that would undermine everything he is trying to build for the future of the Crown.”

Another source said Catherine, Princess of Wales, 44, strongly supports her husband’s position behind the palace walls.

They added: ‘Kate’s position has hardened considerably over time as she believes the Royal Family can no longer afford to blur the line between personal compassion and public duty. Privately, she does sympathize with Beatrice and Eugenie and understands that they have to deal with the consequences of decisions that were not their own, but she also believes that the survival of the monarchy depends on maintaining credibility with the public.

“She says the institution has spent years trying to contain the reputational damage surrounding Andrew, and by bringing the sisters back to high-profile royal events too visibly or too quickly, she risks bringing all that controversy back into the spotlight. Kate thinks the public expects consistency, and she fears any perception of leniency could seriously damage confidence in the Crown.”