Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice share the spotlight well.
But do the royal sisters get along, or is there some sibling rivalry between the princesses?
And how do they feel about their dad, Prince Andrew?
It seems as though Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's sisterly relationship
couldn't be more stable. In an extensive sit-down interview with Vogue UK, Eugenie revealed,
"We're each other's rocks [...] We're the only other person in each other's
lives who can know exactly what the other one is going through."
The two also shared that this bond has helped them through scary times. Eugenie revealed
that when they were younger, she'd make Beatrice enter parties before her. The princess explained,
"I'd hide behind her and she'd make the first move,
then I'd get louder and louder as she made me more confident."
"You don't have to face anything alone."
Growing up is not easy for anyone, but imagine coming of age in the limelight. That was the
reality for Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, and in an interview with Vogue UK,
they shared what it was like to grow up in such an intense media circus. Eugenie explained,
"Growing up in the media, it's [...] interesting [...] We've had some serious grounding from our
parents. They've had their fair share of terrible media interest and it makes us stronger."
As far as how to deal with media negativity, Eugenie said,
"We just need to shine light and love in the world."
Royal marriages were breaking up left, right, and center in the 1990s. Prince
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, initially separated when Beatrice and Eugenie were only 4 and 2,
respectively, an awful experience for any young child.
In a Channel 5 documentary, royal author Tom Quinn claimed that the divorce had "long-lasting"
impacts on both girls, especially given the drama surrounding their familial life. Quinn explained,
"Beatrice and Eugenie had a very odd childhood, where their parents were,
on the face of it, remained friends but they were seeing other people from quite early on [...] I
think that was quite probably damaging in a subtle but kind of long-lasting way."
His sentiment was shared by Richard Kay, who highlighted
the awkward dynamic created between Sarah Ferguson and the royal family. Kay said,
"That must have been very hard to understand when they were young girls, you know,
'Why isn't Mummy allowed in the big house anymore?'"
You would think that because Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are princesses that their kids
would have royal titles, too. But, in one of the few differences between the sisters, Eugenie's son
does not have a title, but Beatrice's daughter does. However, there's nothing
scandalous here. Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, welcomed their son in February 2021.
Because royal titles are given at marriage, little August did not inherit one at birth.
As for why Beatrice's baby has a title, it's all to do with her husband,
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. As noted by People, Mozzi is the sole male descendent of his family line and
just so happens to be a count. His father shared with the press that Mozzi's title automatically
makes Beatrice a countess, and, by proxy, their children also technically receive titles.
While the sisters' respective children haven't been bestowed titles by the queen,
we're sure they'll have at least a couple of royal perks throughout their lives.
When we think of the royals, we think of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. But,
for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, their childhood mostly took place at the
Royal Lodge in Windsor, and their childhood home looks to be warm, welcoming, and cozy.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Eugenie and Beatrice's mother, Sarah Ferguson,
started a YouTube channel where she posts videos reading children's books to encourage
young children to read. The videos give a unique look inside Eugenie and Beatrice's childhood home.
The princesses told Vogue UK their childhood together was a normal one,
and it certainly looks that way when you consider their home. The videos show that
the Royal Lodge is not too dissimilar to a middle-class house in the U.S.,
adorned with nice but not gaudy furniture. Eugenie must've loved her childhood home,
because it's been reported that she and her husband live there along with her parents. Because
despite the fact that Prince Andrew and Ferguson are divorced, they still amicably live together.
The allegations against Prince Andrew have captivated a worldwide audience.
Andrew was accused of allegedly sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre when she was just 17 years old,
with the entire situation linked to the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew has denied all allegations against him, but he faces civil proceedings in the
U.S. With the disturbing news circulating about their father, it doesn't come as a surprise to
learn that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie haven't taken the information well.
Royal journalist Charlotte Griffiths told the Mirror,
"[Beatrice] must find it really difficult,
she genuinely believes her father is like this perfect individual."
"It was definitely the wrong thing to do."
As for Eugenie, she's said to be "completely baffled"
by the revelations, with Griffiths explaining,
"She's just got a new baby, it must be a really stressful time for her.
I feel really bad for the girls."
There's nothing better than getting to watch your sibling grow and thrive as an adult. Princess
Eugenie and Princess Beatrice have not only grown as individuals, but they've gotten to share some
of life's best milestones with each other, and that includes becoming mothers for the first time.
Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, introduced their son to the world in February 2021
and shared an adorable photo a month later. By September 2021, Beatrice and her husband,
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed their baby girl. Eugenie was clearly so excited for
her sister she took to social media to pen a gorgeous letter to the new family of three.
"To my dearest Beabea and Edo⁣. Congratulations on your new angel. I can't wait to meet her and
I'm so proud of you. We're going to have so much fun watching our children grow up."
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice live incredibly busy lives,
balancing royal duties alongside their careers and families. As Eugenie explained to Vogue UK,
"We want to show people who we are as working, young, royal women,
but also not to be afraid of putting ourselves out there."
And working women they are, indeed, as they both work regular jobs.
Beatrice is the vice-president of partnership and strategy for Afiniti,
a technology company based in the U.S. Eugenie, on the other hand, went the creative route,
serving as the associate director for Hauser & Wirth, a contemporary art gallery.
The two princesses balance all of this in addition to the philanthropic work they do
on behalf of the royal family. Of their workload, Eugenie joked to Vogue UK,
"There are meltdowns [...] But we have very understanding bosses."
When it comes to Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, the working royals seem to present
their authentic selves on social media, which is refreshing. While Beatrice doesn't have a
public Instagram page, Eugenie does and makes a point of sharing old photos and
sweet messages involving her sister. One such post occurred on Beatrice's birthday,
when the younger of the two York girls celebrated her sister, saying,
"You are sensational and I have loved every minute watching you be brave and true [...] and you."
And while Beatrice doesn't share much on social media, her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, does,
and his posts give great insight into their sweet
love story. On the couple's first anniversary, he wrote on Instagram,
"You are the kindest, loveliest and most beautiful person in the world.
Thank you my darling for every second."
It seemed as though literally everyone in the world tuned in to watch Kate
Middleton marry Prince William. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, of course,
attended the wedding, but it was the aftermath of the event that took a turn for the worse.
Both princesses were heavily criticized for what they wore on the day,
and the press coverage, memes, and online bullying was seemingly never-ending.
In this difficult, public moment of shaming,
Beatrice and Eugenie turned to each other for support,
sharing what it was like to endure that kind of criticism with Vogue UK. Eugenie explained,
"There was a horrible article that had been written about Beatrice and she got
really upset [...] We were just about to step out and she had a bit of a wobble and cried.
I was looking after her. And then about an hour later, I had a wobble and started crying."
Here's your friendly reminder that celebrities have feelings, too.
"Those moments, they're very defining."
Being a working royal seems like an insurmountable challenge,
and the obstacles in the way of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are ever-changing. And
while being in the royal family certainly has its perks, it comes with a unique set of challenges.
For the two princesses in their early 30s, they are learning together what it's
like to forge ahead on their own paths, defining the line between their private
and personal lives as they go. In their interview with Vogue UK, Eugenie shared,
"It's hard to navigate situations like these because there is no precedent,
there is no protocol [...] We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have
personal lives, and we're also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye."
To top it all off, both princesses have worked together to present their authentic selves,
something incredibly difficult to do in the age of social media. As Eugenie said,
"Nowadays, it's so easy to recoil when you see a
perfect image on Instagram — but it's important that it's real. We're real."
While we've recounted story after story of how Princess Eugenie and
Princess Beatrice have been there for one another,
you may have wondered how they get along so well. In her first-ever sit-down interview in 2008,
shortly before she turned 18, Eugenie shared what makes her relationship with Beatrice so special.
According to Eugenie, they have a number of things in common but very different personalities,
a combination which apparently provides for the perfect balance. As Eugenie told The Telegraph,
"We get on fantastically well, perhaps because we do and think different things [...] I am
definitely not as polite as Beatrice, I have to say. I tell it as it is. I am shyer at first."
However, Eugenie admitted it doesn't take her long to come out of her shell, admitting,
"I am much louder and she is far more polite and solicitous."
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice might have a lovely bond, but that doesn't mean that
there haven't been sisterly tiffs between them, too. After all, who has a sister and doesn't get
into quarrels with them over silly stuff like who gets to use the bathroom mirror first?
As it turns out, Eugenie and Beatrice's biggest tiffs usually aren't too serious,
as they told Vogue UK that one of the most brutal
fights between them was over a pair of Converse shoes. Beatrice shared,
"We have the same size feet and both of us had identical pairs.
One pair got trashed and the other sister may have swapped them."
The argument, though, doesn't stop them from collaborating together when it comes
to fashion. Not only did they indulge in the Vogue UK photoshoot, but they also helped each
other out at their respective weddings. Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel in
Windsor Castle on October 12, 2018, in a huge royal wedding that was televised and attended
by a slew of celebrities. Meanwhile, Beatrice wed Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in an intimate ceremony at
the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge on July 17, 2020. And because of the pandemic,
Beatrice's wedding was extremely small, and didn't allow for many guests.
While their weddings showcased the sisters' differing styles and aesthetics,
it's safe to say that these two have a tight sisterly bond that certainly won't break.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault,
help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact
RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).