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Earlier this year The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked the world – and it would seem the Royal Family family also – when they announced they were stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family.
The move, which saw the Royal Family convene for crisis talks to figure out just how the Sussexes future would look, resulted in Prince Harry and Meghan agreeing to relinquish all royal duties including official military appointments, to no longer receiving public funding and to lose the ability to use the styling ‘HRH’ – His and Her Royal Highness.
The couple’s exit will now undoubtedly put more pressure on the remaining full-time royals as they attempt to cover the engagements the Sussexes can no longer attend, so it’s no surprise Queen Elizabeth could turn to her granddaughters, Princesses Beatrice, 31, and Eugenie, 29, to help take on more royal duties.
Will Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie be called upon by the Queen to take on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal duties? (Image: Getty)
It’s a theory The Crown‘s go-to royal historian Robert Lacey is quite sure of, telling Hello!, “it’s quite clear that one of the consequences is that Beatrice and Eugenie will now be brought forward – if they’re willing to be brought forward.”
Adding, “If two go out, two have got to come in, and those have got to be Beatrice and Eugenie. I’m sure they will step forward and be greatly welcomed.”
As it stands, Beatrice and Eugenie, who are the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, both have full-time jobs outside of the Royal Family, but also hold a handful of patronages and represent the monarch when called upon and it is alleged that Prince Harry hoped that he and Meghan could have similar pared-back roles when they stepped back, however it remains to be seen exactly how this will pan out.
Lacey adds it’s ironic that Prince Harry mentioned his cousins as models of how he wanted to be as it’s highly likely they could now be stepping up.
“It’s what the family needs,” Lacey says, “as it’s another 15 years before Prince George’s generation steps up.”
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Following a four-way summit at Sandringham 10 days after Harry and Meghan’s announcement the Queen released a statement confirming an agreement had been reached regarding the Sussexes’ future.
“Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” the Queen wrote in a statement released earlier this month.
“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.
“I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.”
Adding, “It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
