With Princess Anne’s accident and subsequent hospitalization, the royal family’s ranks are getting even slimmer. With Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, taking time away from royal duties as she receives treatment for her cancer and King Charles keeping a slightly less jam-packed schedule during his recovery, that’s three working royals that aren’t available for big-ticket events—and that’s where Princess Beatrice is stepping in. According to The Mirror, she filled in for her cousin, Prince William, at an Earthshot Prize event on June 25.

William was booked, since Japanese Emperor Naruhito was in London for an official state visit, so his cousin attended the Earthshot event instead, even though she is not an official working royal.

Ever since Kate’s cancer diagnosis, there have been rumors coming from inside the palace stating that there needed to be more royals stepping up to make appearances as she recovers and the king ramps up his energy levels again. 

However, just as many messages stating the opposite have come out, with insiders noting that William wants to keep the Firm small and intimate and that his cousins wouldn’t be making the jump to being working royals.

According to the Daily Express and a Beatrice fan account, she mingled with investors and philanthropists who had come together to “explore water as an emerging investment theme” at the Earthshot Prize celebration. William founded the prize in 2020 and has worked with organizations across the globe to address climate change and other environmental issues.  

A close friend of Beatrice and Eugenie told the Daily Beast that the sisters have “a lot to offer” but noted that King Charles hasn’t asked them to step up and be a part of the small group of working royals just yet.

It seems mean that the girls aren’t being used at all when they have made it clear they want to be of service, especially when Prince Andrew has been accepted back into the fold,” the friend shared. “

They have done nothing wrong and they shouldn’t be visited with the sins of their father. They are very upset to have been ignored by the king as they feel they have a lot to offer, but ultimately not surprised. They are sanguine about it.”

With Beatrice’s latest appearance, however, things may be shifting from behind the palace gates. As the summer progresses and Princess Anne’s recovery continues—she’s widely seen as the hardest-working member of the royal family—Beatrice and Eugenie just might have their chance to shine.

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