Late last week, the palace announced that Princess Beatrice was being “given” a pseudo-royal patronage. Basically, then-Prince Andrew was the patron of Outward Bound before he resigned in disgrace from many of his patronages in 2019. Beatrice simply took over her father’s OB patronage and it was that was up until a few months ago, when she was rather suddenly pushed out. As it turns out, Prince Edward is the official new patron of Outward Bound, but Beatrice is the “deputy patron.” Interesting choreography, right? Then on Monday, Beatrice did what looked like a regular royal engagement – she visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to check in on the work of Borne, a charity dealing with premature babies. This choreography is being done purposefully, according to the Mail’s Richard Eden. It’s all part of the “deal” cooked up by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and King Charles. Not only do Beatrice and Eugenie keep their titles, but Charles is openly allowing Beatrice to become a half-in working royal.

What was it that persuaded Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, to move out of Royal Lodge, his 30-room ‘palace’ at Windsor and accept the loss of his titles and honours, too? I can reveal that it was made clear to Andrew that, while his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson would also lose her title, there would be no action taken against their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Both would retain the title of princess, even though their father can no longer style himself prince. Andrew was told that both women would also retain their places in the line of succession to the throne – ninth in Beatrice’s case and 12th in Eugenie’s.

Beatrice, 37, would also remain one of seven Counsellors of State legally entitled to stand in for the King if he cannot undertake his official duties due to temporary illness or absence abroad.

There is, however, another aspect of this ‘secret deal’ between the King and his brother Andrew that I can now disclose. It was agreed that not only would there be no action taken by the King against Beatrice and Eugenie, 35, but they would be allowed to accept new official royal roles.

The first evidence of the deal was provided last Friday, barely a week after the King announced that he was stripping Andrew of his titles and honours. Outward Bound, one of the charities most closely associated with the Royal Family, announced that Beatrice had been appointed as its new Deputy Patron. The new Royal Patron was her uncle Prince Edward. Both appointments were approved by the King and, in Bea’s case, it was hugely significant.

Outward Bound is not the only good cause with which Beatrice is involved. On Monday, she visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to see the charity Borne’s research laboratories and learn more about the organisation’s work to prevent premature birth. Beatrice’s own daughter, Athena, was born prematurely at the hospital in west London and the princess is a patron of Borne.

With the King’s approval, we can expect more of such public engagements by Beatrice and Eugenie, to the surprise of their critics, who worry that they are tainted by the controversies surrounding their parents. The King is, however, a fair and magnanimous man who does not believe that his nieces should suffer because of their parents’ behaviour.

‘It is, perhaps, one of the few things that His Majesty and Andrew agree on,’ a royal source told me. ‘They both love Beatrice and Eugenie and want the best for them. They also agree that the princesses can play an important, helpful role in public life.’

[From The Daily Mail]

What’s weird is that in the old days, Charles absolutely loathed the idea of Bea and Eugenie becoming working royals in any capacity. Charles’s obsession with a “slimmed down monarchy” meant that none of his nieces or nephews would ever “work” for the Firm in any way shape or form. No one expected Andrew to be “un-royaled” so dramatically, but it’s even more unexpected to see Charles’s volte-face on the issue of B&E. To me, this move is less about Andrew and whatever deal he worked out with Charles. It’s more about Charles being desperate for anyone younger than 60 years old, willing to plaster on a smile and do some “royal engagements.” God knows, William and Kate aren’t going to do it.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.