Young royals Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are going through a tough time at present, with both of their parents mired in scandal thanks to their associations with multimillionaire sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein. It’s a huge setback for the princesses, who had reportedly been hoping to progress towards a more prominent role within the royal family.
With Eugenie celebrating the anniversary of her wedding to marketing executive Jack Brooksbank this weekend, a former royal butler has given a public insight into what the 35-year-old princess is truly like behind closed doors. Between 2004 and 2011 Grant Harrold worked as a butler for King Charles III, who was still Prince of Wales at the time. He says his intimate knowledge of the royal household has given him a profound knowledge of the princess’s personality, which he describes as “very kind and gentle.”
He explains: “Princess Eugenie and her sister Beatrice were always really nice. Whenever I dealt with them they were very sweet and gentle. Always said their ‘please and thank yous’ and were very polite.”
Grant, speaking on behalf of OLBG, added: “They were extremely lovely young women, and were much loved members of the Royal Family.”
He explained how close the King is with his niece, who was married on October 12 seven years ago, and believes Charles will remain keen to keep her involved in private family events.
Grant adds: “The King is very fond of his nieces, and gets on with both of them really well. He will encourage them to come to family events, he will want them to be included in those private family celebrations.”
Eugenie and her other half live in Ivy Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, while her older sister, Beatrice, lives with her husband, property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, in a £3.5million mansion in the Cotswolds.
While the two princesses share a close bond with their parents, in a recent interview with Vogue magazine, Eugenie stressed that they have their own independent identities: “We want to show people who we are: working, young, royal women… not afraid of putting ourselves out there,” she said.
One royal insider held a contrary view, describing the two sisters as having spoiled, out-of-touch upbringings.
The source told the Daily Mail: “Beatrice and Eugenie grew up in this rarefied world in which there was always someone to do everything for you.
“That was illustrated when Beatrice had her BMW stolen in 2009 after leaving it unlocked with the car keys in the ignition. I think she was used to her police protection officer looking after such things.”
“Whether you believe it was their decision [to not be working royals] or it was they and their father putting a brave face on things, he and they said they wanted careers instead of a life of ribbon-cutting. Andrew maintained it was their decision.”
