Princess Beatrice & Eugenie have a hard time dealing with style & weight criticism

Royal Ascot Royals

Here’s a better look at Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice and their ensembles at Royal Ascot this week. Both York princesses looked kind of terrible, to be honest. I sort of defend them and their style most of the time, because they experiment with “riskier” fashion choices and they sometimes wear more off-beat designers, but these looks were just bad for both of them. Beatrice’s dress was by Maje, and it looks super-cheap, from the fabric to the design to the fit. Eugenie’s bad darts ruined what could have been an okay look.

Eugenie and Beatrice tend to come out for Royal Ascot every year to support their grandmother. They do many of these “big events” on the social calendar, and they do some charity work too. But they’re not full-time working royals, and they’re supposed to have other jobs. Eugenie works for a gallery in London now, after several years working for an auction house in New York. Beatrice… well, I’m still not entirely sure what she does. Anyway, People Magazine ran this piece about Bea and Genie and how the criticism gets to them, especially when they’re criticized over their work lives.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice have found their royal footing. As Queen Elizabeth‘s granddaughters, the sisters have been in the spotlight since their births — and the public didn’t always treat them kindly. They were mocked for their style choices — most famously their whimsical fascinators at Kate Middleton and Prince William’s 2011 royal wedding — and ridiculed for balancing their royal duties with their everyday careers. (Eugenie is an art gallery director in London, while Beatrice is vice president of a data and software firm in New York City.)

“Being role models has always been a hard one for them to deal with, and being criticized for their weight, fashion and work lives has always been hard for them to swallow,” an insider tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “But in the last couple of years both girls have come around to the fact they’re women now, and they can do a lot of good with their status.”

Despite glamorous appearances at events like Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot, the royal sisters want to make the most of their unique positions while maintaining normal lives.

“Yes, their grandmother is Queen, and they ride in carriages and live in this bubble,” a friend says of the princesses. “But they’re human beings who want to fall in love, have a good time, make a difference and just live.”

“They are independent, working women but are also aware of their position and where they can help,” says the family friend.

[From People]

People Mag also notes that they do charity work often enough, and they come out to support the Queen at events throughout the year, and I agree – they have the right kind of public schedule for two princesses who are not considered full-time royals. Prince Charles doesn’t want Eugenie and Beatrice to contribute, so they basically just do whatever the Queen wants them to do, all while maintaining full-time jobs (or at least that’s the idea). I also feel like people unfairly bash the York princesses for… looking like normal young women. I find them relatable – they don’t always look perfect, they have tacky style, they have weight struggles. Why is that a bad thing? I thought royals were supposed to be Just Like Us? Also: Beatrice works for a software firm in New York now? Really?

Royal Ascot 2019

Royal Ascot Royals

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

146 Responses to “Princess Beatrice & Eugenie have a hard time dealing with style & weight criticism”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Erinn says:

    I feel bad for them. They’re pretty ‘normal’ sized people. Not fat at all, but they don’t have a super petite body type. And they’re not the most stunning women in the world BUT THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE. I think they’re cute. You put them among other women in their/my age group, and they really don’t look that different. They’re incredibly relatable in that aspect.

    I also thought the lace dress was really bad when I only saw the top portion of it – I like it a lot more when I see the whole thing. I love the color. The darting on the bust of the other dress is a bit unfortunate, though.

    • Becks1 says:

      Yeah, I meant to add that – they seem pretty normal size to me. I just think its hard when you’re standing next to someone like Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle. I have some friends who are built like that – Kate and Meghan – super slim – and I feel so awkward and “huge” next to them (like not just heavy, I feel like I am towering over them like a giant lol.)

      • Erinn says:

        My tiniest friend is currently pregnant with her first. Her mom had said when she was picking out wedding dresses and having to have everything clipped that when she was a teen she was worried people thought she was starving her because she’s just always been a VERY lean, willowy kind of person. You can see a lot of bones – but her dad grew up the exact same way. But right now she’s just bumping into everything because she’s taking up so much space compared to normal (and I still don’t really love standing next to her! She’s a very cute pregnant lady).

        I don’t have the problem with towering height (5’2″) haha. But even at my tiniest I was just someone who had a bigger bust and hip and when you’re short, it looks even more exaggerated. I’m built more like Bea and Eugenie – a bit shorter, a bit stockier and it really must be awful having to follow the Meghan’s and Kate’s of the world. There’s nothing WRONG with Bea/Eugenie’s shape – but the comparisons are always going to be there, and I can’t imagine how awful that must be.

      • Swack says:

        Unfortunately the blue dress looks similar to Kate’s and people will inevitably compare the two and make it all about weight.

      • yeet says:

        Huh, I never knew people had thoughts like this! I’ve always thought of people’s sizes as just being inherently what they are, with no need to compare them. Some of us are lions, some cheetahs, and some house cats, and we’re all magnificent creatures in our right and size? For example, my friend looks like Ashley Graham – in looks but also body size, and people would always remark on her curves and beauty, compared to my narrow frame. but I would never avoid standing next to her because of the comparison.

        I also don’t think I’ve ever known a single woman who thought she was perfect the way she was, which makes me want to cry. We’re so ingrained to compare ourselves to other girls and women, at such an early age. I have heard my thinnest friends call themselves ‘fat’ and my most beautiful friends call themselves ‘ugly’ or go on scary diets rather than be allowed some water weight fluctuation.

        I love you Kaiser, and everyone here, but I love the York girls and think they dress great and show some quirkiness, which is what fashion is about to me – personality. Better to make some so-called ‘mistakes’ than be boring.

    • Bella DuPont says:

      The real issue isn’t so much their body type (imo), it’s that they don’t seem to have a clue how to dress for it. They need good, experienced stylists and if they already have stylists, they need to sack them and start again.

      I have a couple of friends with similar body types and they have no problems looking very stylish because they know what suits them.

      • Erinn says:

        I think you’re right for the most part. It’s a shame though, because they would certainly be able to find someone capable of guiding them properly. They have the kind of connections that normal people could only dream of.

        They would benefit greatly from someone who actually cared about dressing them in a way that played up their good traits and kind of tricked the eye with areas they’re more self conscious about.

      • AnnaKist says:

        I agree wholeheartedly, Ms Du Pont. My daughter has curves, but is average size and can wear most things. She has one friend who is like a rake, and even she has issues with some garments not suiting her. Two other friends are plus-size, and they tend to wear vintage-style dresses (from brands like Hell Bunny) and look absolutely stunning. The skinny friend bought one of those dresses, and looked, well, I don’t want to be uncharitable, because she’s a sweetheart. The York girls don’t have a clue what suits them. What looks nice on a hanger or shop mannequin doesn’t necessarily look good on real, live woman. I’ve seen them, not often enough, in some good, classic pieces, and they did look very nice. They need a good stylist and a ruthless wardrobe cull, along with a good chuck-out of all those silly hats. Eugenie’s looks like the big sponge I use to clean the bath.

      • Digital Unicorn says:

        I agree they are not dressing for their body types – I’ve seen Eugenie in person and she is rather slim. Both work out quite a lot as its often said they are regular gym buddies.

      • Another Anne says:

        This! Both of their outfits are very matronly. You’d expect to see these on grandmothers at their garden club gala, not young women of their age.

      • Gail says:

        Yes! I thought they looked great in their Vogue spread a while back, they just do NOT dress well for their bodies on a day to day basis.

      • PrincessK says:

        I don’t like the way they are shamed…but at times I do wonder if they look in the mirror and see the clothes they are wearing. The darts in Eugenie’s dress are awful, and she looks quite embarrassed about it in the photos, but someone should have told her when she tried the dress on.

        It could be that the sisters do not have access to the kind of money available to the Duchesses but its no excuse…they can find nice clothes on the high street but they just want to wear second rate ‘designer’ stuff that doesn’t fit them.

    • Lonnie tinks says:

      I was just thinking what a shame it is that they don’t know ow to dress their shapes. Both of them have curves, and would look banging in the right dresses, a lot of women who people consider to have weight problems, are actually just curvy, beautiful women who don’t dress well for their body types.

      • minx says:

        They need guidance. I think they like to follow trends with no sense of what works. An example, V necks are flattering—I have broad shoulders so crew necklines make me look like a football player.

      • Spicecake38 says:

        Yes to this and the point @ AnnaKist said above ..Really very pretty women,they don’t dress to suit their frame and add CLASSIC pieces.They need some type of classic *uniform* to go to and then add trendy fun pieces,really Meghan and Kate could add some classic basic pieces too,they are also pretty but often overpowered by their clothing choices.

      • AryasMum says:

        @Minx, I have broader shoulders and a larger bust, like Eugenie, and those crew necks make the bust look close to the waist. Definitely a fashion no.

      • Still_Sarah says:

        @ Lonnie : I have come on to this site and said the same thing so many times. They don’t know how to dress for their body types.
        @Spicecake38 : Exactly about the “uniforms”. I have a book by Amy Fine (fashion editor) and Olivia Goldsmith (fiction writer) called “Simple Isn’t Easy”. It’s a book on fashion and style and it talks about stylish women wearing uniforms of a sort – always in pantsuits or sweaters-jeans, etc.

      • Spicecake38 says:

        @still Sarah thanks for naming those authors and books.My uniform is straight leg black yoga pants and cashmere t shirt of varying colors,change shoes,hair,etc but that gets me out the door looking put together 3seasons per year and when dressing up needs to happen I know my silhouette so it’s not so bad.I have finally had to learn that if you are physically comfortable then you look better-if you are trying too hard it seems to almost always backfire and you look uncomfortable and poorly dressed.

      • cannibell says:

        @Spicecake & @stillSarah – everything you said even more. And when the weight starts to creep on, you just ditch it instantly because you do not want to have to start over in a different size!

    • Godwina says:

      Their (perfectly fine, normal) size isn’t the issue. They just don’t know how to dress. I don’t get it? With their money/connections? “Tacky” is right. It’s weird.

      They could look fantastic if they just screwed their taste on a bit tighter. As it is, it’s rattling about all over the place.

    • perplexed says:

      I don’t think they have to be stunning either. Neither Camilla and Anne are what Princess Diana was, and people still admire them all the same. After a certain age, you’re judged more by owning who you are than trying to compete with all the thin people. Queen Elizabeth is freaking 90 but people admire her sense of duty. Personality DOES help! I just have no idea if they have personalities.

      • minx says:

        Exactly. They also need to stand up straight and sit up straight. Throw your shoulders back and carry yourself well. I forced myself do that after I had babies and was carrying a lot of extra weight and it made a difference.

      • Tigerlily says:

        perplexed-And really, Diana wasn’t much to look at until she got her hair lightened, layered into her signature do & got some fashion advice plus makeup advice. And I don’t think the York girls have had much guidance from their mom as Sarah has terrible fashion sense. She looked amazing in her wedding gown but it was downhill from there.

      • BeanieBean says:

        minx: Their posture is exactly like their mother’s. I remember seeing photos of Fergie & she always looked like she had just tripped, because she’s bent forward at the waist. Eugenie & Beatrice have that same build & posture.

      • perplexed says:

        Over time after her divorce, I think Sarah Ferguson’s style improved (of course, she also lost weight).

    • weezle says:

      OMG! I thought she was having a nipple eruption. VERY unfortunate dart placement indeed.

    • weezle says:

      Now I understand why my teacher made us end a bust dart about two centimeters below the apex.

    • Frida_K says:

      They both need better foundation garments, for one thing.

  2. Valerie says:

    They’re not thin, but so what? Why does anyone have to remark upon it? Their bodies are their own.

    Style-wise, that’s another story! I’m also not digging the looks here. They’re very Easter egg-y.

    • Chrissy says:

      They seem to take after their mother and history is repeating itself. Sarah Ferguson was slammed for being a normal, shapely young women and having no dress sense back when she came on the scene too. But she was being compared to Diana who, of course, was tall, willowy and had fashion sense once she became Princess of Wales. The Yorks just need better stylists and to stay away from trends IMO.

  3. Becks1 says:

    I would have LOVED Eugenie’s dress if the darts weren’t there. It does seem a little simple for Ascot, but I love the teal color with the yellow accents. I wish she had done a bigger, more fun hat though. Beatrice looked okay to me, I liked her dress but not the tassels on her hat.

    Anyway, they obviously get a lot of criticism for their weight. I imagine its hard growing up in the spotlight like they did, and having a hard time finding their footing in life, since they expected to be full time royals. So I do have a soft spot for them. I think it seems like they are handling things pretty well by this point.

    • Nic919 says:

      I agree. I think the badly placed darts ruined the look, but if they weren’t there I don’t think the dress was that bad.

    • Mel M says:

      Yeah, I like E’s skirt, hate the top. Even without those terrible darts, that I can’t believe anyone let her leave the house wearing, the fit is too tight and clingy. B’s dress is bad all around except for the color and the tassels ha going off her hat are so strange, looks like an afterthought.

    • L84Tea says:

      I agree. If it weren’t for the unfortunate dart nipples, this dress would be fun and perfect.

    • minx says:

      I’ve said this before, that my niece manages a domestic violence center in NYC and Eugenie toured it a year or so ago. She stayed a long time and asked intelligent questions. My niece sent a picture of her and Eugenie and Eugenie was startlingly pretty—beautiful skin, hair, eyes, great smile. She also did not look overweight in. The. Least. She actually looked small.

      • Becks1 says:

        That’s nice to hear Minx! I love to hear “inside” stories about what some of these royals are like in person.

      • AB says:

        Good point. The camera adds 10 lbs and not everyone is photogenic in high definition, or cares to be.

      • Spicecake38 says:

        That’s so nice to hear,I would like very much for the York girls to be given credit for what they do instead of how they look. All I know of the royal princesses is bad fashion sense and their parents shenanigans.
        But @minx- it’s the women behind the scenes like your niece who deserve the most respect.

      • minx says:

        Spicecake—thank you on behalf of my niece, I agree.

    • 10KTurtle says:

      I think without the darts and with a statement necklace, Eugenie would have had a great look that day!

  4. savu says:

    Hasn’t Bea been part of this NYC company for a while? Why is she ALWAYS in the UK?! That feels like a JINO – job in name only.

    • (TheOG)@Jan90067 says:

      Considering her lack of experience … how many people (other than nepotism sprogs) walk into a VP slot in ANY firm, let alone one in NY. That, and the fact she’s *always* in the UK… when does she “work”?? You can comfortably bet everything you have she’s got the “job” only for connections she may provide. And before you all jump on me, yes, I know business = connections in many ways, but there isn’t even a pretense of her working at all.

      As for “style”… it’s sad, but these women, just like dear old mum, don’t have any. You can count on one hand (with fingers left over) the times they got it “right”. And it is sad, because they don’t have bad figures, just not willowy. They need to learn to dress for it (ie: Eug should embrace a V neck, or a scoop; the high neck gives her a huge chest).

      Also, I thought that tights/stockings were required around The Queen? Wasn’t that brought up for Meghan… gasp! She’s not wearing hose! TQ will stroke out! And here’s Bea, bare-legged. Another double standard it seems.

      • duchesschicana says:

        She has been at her job for about 3 years now that was backed by one of her former internship jobs here is an in depth interview about her job seems like she has long term plans for it.
        https://tinyurl.com/y6svl7cx

      • Molly says:

        One of the York sister wore thigh-high leather boots to Christmas CHURCH WITH THE QUEEN. The panic about Meghan and the hose couldn’t be more eye-rolly.

      • Mumbles says:

        Before the stockings were an issue with Meghan, they were an issue with Kate. Meghan does get crapped on by the more racist elements in the British tabloid, but in this case, she wasn’t singled out.

    • BeanieBean says:

      I don’t know what her work is, but an awful lot of work can be accomplished ‘virtually’. You can live anywhere & work, as long as you have internet.

  5. erika says:

    I always try to imagine the royals back when they were rulers, etc. How their beauty would be perceived. It makes me wonder if they would be considered ‘prettier’ than Kate for having thicker builds. Just curious…

  6. astrid says:

    Considering the resources at their disposal, I have higher expectations for their royal work look.

    • kerwood says:

      Maybe they can join in with Kate to get a stylist.

      Prince Andrew has worked overtime to make sure his daughters get all the privileges he believes they’re entitled to. They’re not the cutest girls in the world so it can’t be easy growing up in the spotlight but they can at least take a look in the mirror before they leave the house.

      I like the fact that one of them (I can’t tell them apart) likes to take fashion risks. I will always love the royal wedding fascinator that launched a million memes!

  7. Clare says:

    This is why I think it’s a great idea for Megan and Harry to keep Archie out of the HRH fold now, and in the long term. This half in half out existence has got to suck – Eugenie and Bea would have been better off if Andrew had taken the same path as Anne (almost all the perks of being the Queen’s grandchildren – Zara was married at Holyrood etc – without some of the unrelenting pressure and criticism of being a ‘part-time’ royal.)

    • Mumbles says:

      Agreed but Andrew is a creep and is his mother’s favorite so he would have never made that decision. There was a period in the 1980s when everyone loved the guy – he was young, handsome, funny, and had a wife who seemed to be a love match, all in contrast to Charles, who seemed priggish and old for his age at the time. I think he still believes his own press from back then.

      These girls are probably aware of the hell the press put their mom through (“Princess of Pork”), and that has to have scarred them.

      • Clare says:

        Doesn’t that sound strikingly family’s to the two Wales’ brothers? The heir is stuffy, priggish and controlling – the spare is ‘fun’ and handsome with a beautiful vivacious wife he holds hands with in public…

        All fingers crossed this spare turns out better than his gross uncle!!!

        (Before you jump at me, I’m not saying Harry is anything like Andrew – just that the narratives sound awfully familiar).

      • himmiefan says:

        I think Andrew thought he should have as much pomp and circumstance as Charles even though their positions are very different. I think Harry looked at Andrew and Margaret and decided that he was not going to be the aimless “spare.”

  8. minx says:

    I feel for them, but they just need someone to advise them. They’re both young and have nice curves and could look great.

  9. Jane says:

    All I can think of is what was Princess Eugenie thinking when she picked out that dress and decided to wear it to a formal event? I know there are darts in the chest, but they look like she is going braless with her nips showing. Shaking my head.

    • Emily says:

      She does look braless but I also seem to be able to see the lines of her bra in every picture? It was a bad choice.

    • Julie says:

      It looks like the dress rode up a bit and her bra fell down a bit, leading to the darts being in an awkward position.

      Darts are hard when you’re large busted. They add a bit of structure and can make a top or dress look really polished and elegant (not always easy to achieve when you have big boobs), but then they can also look awful if the fabric moves just a little.

  10. Citresse says:

    Eugenie looked ok despite the nipple darts. I think she’s pregnant.
    It appeared she told her family at Ascot.
    Beatrice has good shoes, I like her shoes a lot but her dresses are frumpy, ugly or just plain unusual.

  11. Mash says:

    bea seems like she would havebeen attractive in 1600s and eugenie seems like she would have been attractive in the late 1800s like victorian era

    • Gia says:

      True. Right. Well analysed and well summed-up.
      But a different perspective is required:

      Who declared that women shaped like Beatrice and Eugenie aren’t attractive? And why can’t we just declare them to be attractive and shut down everybody who disagrees?

  12. Emily says:

    Is everyone wearing those plastic disks on their shoes so the heels don’t dig into the grass? I was wondering that looking through every picture.

  13. Cee says:

    They do charity work that’s largely unreported. Both have founded their own charities and are focused in anti-slavery (Eugenie) and children’s welfare and education (Beatrice). They seem to be more focused and KEEN than Kate and her non existent Broken Britain thing.

    • Gia says:

      Honestly I think that Royals do much unreported charity work. Because they need to be seen and therefore they need to be photographed. And those pics are somewhere. Always. I mean when they do charity work and they don’t get papped then their “work” is useless for the charity. Every charity needs the pictures of visiting Royals, too.

      Last but not least: They could simply instagram their royal duty charity pics.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Gia – they do put their charity pics on IG. At least Eugenie does (I’m not sure if Bea is on IG.) I like her IG account, she doesn’t post anything private but there are some behind the scenes pics that I like seeing (like she posted a cute one of her and her father from her wedding day on Father’s Day.) But anyway yeah, Eugenie does post pics from her charity work. I like seeing it. But she doesn’t get the level of press that other royal members get, but that’s true for Anne, Duchess of Gloucester, etc.

    • isabelle says:

      Agree they are way more active than the the sp caleld higher royals, which is many times the case in royal families.

  14. ChillyWilly says:

    I agree that these girls are not overweight at all. They look healthy to me. Most (not all)/women who are as thin as Meghan and Kate are on very restrictive diets that are not easy or fun to maintain.
    Their style does need help. I mean those nipple darts on Eugenie are unforgivable.

    • Gia says:

      It looks like that dress was made for a slimmer woman than Eugenie who is a beautiful woman!
      Or at least the upper half of the dress was intended for somebody with less balcony.

  15. Heylee says:

    Why that particular party line from Charles? He doesn’t want them to contribute because of cost/ benefit ratio? Politics?

    • Becks1 says:

      I think its an overall effort to slim down the monarchy and the costs associated with it. If the girls were working royals, I think they would get funds from the sovereign grant. (I think. Someone who is more knowledgeable should chime in lol.)

      • Harla says:

        I don’t know how Charles’ plan is going to work in the long run when you see that the Queen’s cousins (which will be B&E’s position when W ascends) take on quite a few royal engagements throughout the year and attend most of the state banquets and such. Does Charles really believe that W&K and H&M are going to up their current workload or his is planning on a complete revamping of royal work? With the exception of last week’s event I can’t recall any of the younger royals doing much that isn’t associated with their pet causes. Personally I think the younger royals need to do more factory openings, fair and farm visits, you know the more bread and butter royal engagements. While having some of their focus on special causes, there are many more segments of British society, the people whose taxes pay for the royals, that can and should be highlighted and given a royal pat on the back.

      • notasugarhere says:

        The BRF does 3000 engagements a year. Anne and Charles handle around 500 of those each (1000 total between the three of them). Easy enough for six working royals to handle 3000 engagements a year, provided they get out there and do them.

    • KL says:

      Charles has been vocal about wanting to “streamline” the monarchy for years and lessen (at least comparatively) the burden on the taxpayers by making only direct heirs and descendants beneficiaries of the money they receive as official royals. This is secretly-but-not-so-secretly an attempt to cut off Beatrice and Eugenie’s dad, Andrew. He utterly plows through funds and had been in some genuinely awful controversies, but he’s the favored child, so Elizabeth keeps the money coming. It’s generally accepted he also pushed the girls into the royal orbit and asked their grandmother to include them in royal duties in order to maintain that pipeline even when Charles takes the throne. Eugenie and Beatrice themselves, by most accounts, are harmless but pretty easily pushed around by both parents and their demands. (And I don’t know these people from Adam, but THAT dynamic is sadly too familiar to me in my own social circles, so I tend to believe it.) Vanity Fair had a detailed article on it in 2011 called “The Trouble With Andrew.”

    • himmiefan says:

      Anyone else thinking about The Windsors where Bea and Euge became motivational speakers and went to a factory and told the workers how cost effective it would be to replace everyone with automation?

  16. Gia says:

    They do both look very nice.
    Eugenie has that modern simple look about her: modern coloured monochrome-coloured dress and a hat in a different colour. Intense colours and clean lines.
    Beatrice has that doily romantic thing going on in her dress and she looks way nicer than Kate who couldn’t decide if she wanted the main topic to be Cinderella’s star-spangled ankle-lenght shortened ball gown or granny’s folksy see-through blouse.

    The York sisters wear such different styles that both of them standing next to each other makes each dress look odd.

    • MsIam says:

      Well, I don’t know about Eugenie’s dress, that one looks like a lost cause to me mainly because of the fit. But I agree with you about Beatrice’s dress. I am not a fan of lace dresses, other than for a wedding or a sheath style cocktail dress. But I think it looks way better than the one Kate wore. Kate’s had too many different styles of lace going on and the whole effect looked terrible. I don’t mind Beatrice’s dress although I might have tried a different belt. But other than that it’s not bad.

  17. NotSoSocialButterfly says:

    I think the biggest issue for these women style-wise, is that they are young, but choose (or have chosen for them) incredibly matronly styles which age them ridiculously. They need to dress their ages, and a bit more fun, while conforming to norms.

  18. burdzeyeview says:

    There’s nothing wrong with their weight but they’re styling does nothing for them, nothing ever seems to suit them or fit properly and they’ve made so many bad choices.

  19. Naddie says:

    The best thing about not been born in Europe or US is that skinny is definitely out of our goals (but we do have a lame beauty standard to call our own). Yesterday I was reading about Beyonce and the writer said “she’s never been gifted with a slim body”, and I wanted to punch whoever wrote that shit. Other atrocity is the thigh gaps, that was never a thing here.

  20. NeoCleo says:

    In other words, the princesses are like the rest of us: they have feelings!!!

    I’ve never been able to just shrug off negative comments about my appearance from people I love. Strangers? Who gives a f*ck. But friends and relatives negative comments cut me to the bone.

  21. Al says:

    I wonder what it must feel like to put on a dress and feel fantastic in it only to find out that people felt comfortable freely expressing that they thought you looked like shit. They thought you looked like shit when you thought and felt fantastic.
    You know what- she matched her hat to the underskirt on her frilly dress!!!! And the sisters are wearing matching (killer) shoes and holding matching handbags!! They seem awesome. And is that a rainbow sash hanging off that hat??????
    They look like they feel great

    • Gidget says:

      The York princesses always have fabulous shoes! It’s the first thing I look for whenever I see their photos.

  22. detritus says:

    I wouldn’t exactly say they have weight struggles. I’m sure they are a perfectly healthy weight.

    They have struggled with the social expectations that princesses owe the world performative thinness. That the current popularized female ideal is low body weight.

  23. thea says:

    people also love to hate on them because of who their parents are, which is a shame since you can’t pick your parents.

  24. BANANIE says:

    I think they should definitely get stylists and people shouldn’t knock them for their weight. Because unless they had medical issues preventing them from losing the weight, they probably would. I’m not saying it would be easy, just that it’s not some impossible thing. It takes discipline and hard work, sure, but it’s possible.

  25. Bosandi says:

    I hate they are criticized for their weight. The princesses seem to be normal sized women. I can’t imagine how it would feel to be photographed constantly and then be picked apart on how you look. In photos, they always look happy and engaged in whatever they are doing.

    I like both dresses but they don’t suit either one of them. However, we can always count on them to wear something that’s interesting and stylish. They always have a good shoe game going in comparison to Kate and some others. I only wish they’d select styles that compliment their figures better.

  26. HK9 says:

    I’ve never seen these two as having weight issues. I’m wondering if it’s that people are comparing them to Kate who’s borderline underweight IMO.

    • perplexed says:

      Princess Diana was also tall and slim in a model-esque kind of way.

      Mrs. Wallis Simpson wasn’t traditionally beautiful (or at least that’s what she said), but she dressed well.

      Harry married Meghan, and she’s certainly pretty and slim too.

      In general, princes marry women who are traditionally slim (or become that way) and would be considered pretty. So…I don’t know…yeah, I think they’re being compared, but it is what it is.

      Princess Anne isn’t conventionally pretty, but she owns who she is, and I think Eugenie and Beatrice would be better off if they were like that. Plus, they insist they’re “blood princesses”. That should help their self-esteem.

  27. Elizabeth says:

    There are plenty of plus-sized and/or plain-faced women who look chic and attractive because they really look at themselves to see what works and what doesn’t. They do things like getting their colors done or going with design lines that work with their real bodies and they stick with that. These girls do not have a “fashion-forward” look and need to give up the risky clothes.

  28. FluffyPrincess says:

    I think Bea and Eugenie are attractive. They have lovely complexions, and big beautiful eyes, but they need to work out how to dress for their body types.

    They are curvy girls, and so many times they do not dress correctly for their figures. I get they want to try more modern or edgy fashion–but if those choices end up making one ill-proportioned or too “try-hard” then they need to ditch it. Perhaps, stick with a more classic dress style, but get the funky shoes and/or an unusual handbag, or maybe some daring make-up to get that edgy modernity they seem to like.

    The color of the dresses are lovely, but again the styling is wrong.

    My favorite dress was Zara’s dress–she has been KILLING it in the fashion game for the last 2-3 years. And so has Mike Tindall–he is dapper AF! Even at 9 mo pregnant at Harry’s wedding she still looked more stylish and than the York girls.

  29. isabelle says:

    You know what I obsess over? Women who aren’t typical thin, really overweight from slightly overweight, still keep their thin legs. They have those great legs. Long thin legs even when they aren’t typical thin. I’m around a size 4 and have the calves of a weightlifter. Massive big calves on a thin body. I won’t wear certain dresses because of them. Women are insecure for many reasons about their bodies and to tell them not to worry about it or move on, we just can’t do it for the most part. There is always something wrong with our bodies right? Thin, average or overweight…all women have some insecurity about their body. Can’t imagine what it is like to be in the spotlight on top of it.

    • thea says:

      everyone on my mom’s side of the family have slim, long legs except for, of course, yours truly. i’m 5’7 and a size 4 and while i do have long legs, they aren’t as skinny as my sister, cousin, aunt, or mom. super annoying growing up. i was self-conscious about it, but now i’m mostly over it – mostly (that is until I try to borrow my sister’s thigh high boots, lol).

  30. jennifer says:

    I feel for them. We are all brought up on a fairytale image of what a princess “should” look like, and in reality they are just normal people. Kate and Meghan are both naturally beautiful and more stylish and sophisticated, which must be even harder for the princesses. I don’t understand- with all their money and access why they don’t get a stylist and a makeover. They just need to learn how to dress for their body type.

    • perplexed says:

      They where unflattering clothes that make them look worse than what they actually look like. For instance, the toilet bowl hat at Kate and William’s wedding. Why?

      • Jen says:

        I think she takes fashion risks and that one didn’t pan out at all. It was an awful choice. But then for Harry and Meghan’s wedding, their outfits were criticized as being boring and too safe by a lot of people.

        Kate is a very boring dresser with all her near identical coat-dresses. I think B & E are trying not to fall into that trap – but the difference is that overall, Kate has found a look that works for her and she sticks with it. B&E are trying not to be “boring” and instead have a lot more total misses.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Beatrice trusted the long-time royal milliner to design a hat. End of the day, she made 150,000+ for charity from the auction on the hat.

      • perplexed says:

        Great. She made money for charity. So did Diana. So do all the royals for various ventures. Still doesn’t change the fact that her fashion choices aren’t any better than the rest of the royals. Kate might be boring, but if I had to choose between looking like her or looking like Beatrice — well, I’ll probably get flamed, but I’d choose Kate, criticisms from everyone else be darned.

      • PrincessK says:

        It was done deliberately to grab some attention away from Kate….Beatrice would have had an idea about what the hat would look like.

    • Mego says:

      Meghan is lovely but had rhinoplasty. Check pics of Kate prior to 2007 and she is fairly average looking – she’s had work done and continues to get touch ups in addition to keeping below average weight. Her current look didn’t come naturally.

  31. duchesschicana says:

    Charles has nothing against them, Princess Eugenie is patron of Elephant family a charity very close to Camilia annd Charles’ heart, dont think he would make someone patronage of his charity that he had something against. They are simply not needed, there is enough working royals, nothing personal doesnt mean he doesnt want them to contribute/ support the monarchy/charitywork. I think he is a bit closer to the York Princesses than media portrays .

    Beatrice has been at her job for about 3 years now that was backed by one of her former internship jobs here is an in depth interview about her job seems like she has long term plans for it.
    https://tinyurl.com/y6svl7cx

  32. K says:

    That’s a shame. They look like perfectly healthy and average women to me.

  33. perplexed says:

    “I thought royals were supposed to be Just Like Us? ”

    Really? Why? What’s the point of having them if they’re not set apart from everyone else?

    I don’t think unfair standards should be placed on humans, but if royals are just like us you might as well get rid of them. The Kardashians are supposed to be just like us, not the royals. Although I think peasants are classier than the Kardashians.

    • notasugarhere says:

      As they’re not working royals and are not supported by the taxpayers, why is it a problem if Beatrice and Eugenie are just like us in some ways?

      • perplexed says:

        If they want to be like everyone else (which I don’t really think they want to be if they’re insistent on being “blood princesses”) that’s fine. But the post references “royals” in general, not simply Beatrice and Eugenie. And the belief that royals would be just like us doesn’t make sense. Once they become too much like the rest of us, their social symbolic function ceases to be of any use. You can feel free to argue against this if you want as is your wish, but my opinion isn’t going to change.

  34. Minxx says:

    Eugenie is probably pregnant. Lots of photos with other family members (esp Zara) seem to suggest she was congratulated at Ascot. I feel for them. Normal sized girls will always look a bit heavy next to Kate and Meghan. But Eugenie showed she can dress well, Vivienne Westwood particularly suits her shape. They both have great legs!

  35. DS9 says:

    I feel for them when the criticism is based on weight and physical appearance. No one should be criticized for the way their body is made.

    But dressing stylishly is not a mystery, not at the price point these ladies live in. So either embrace that what makes you happy is often ugly, ill-fitting, or just plain tacky. Or do better.

  36. perplexed says:

    Those dresses are ugly. That’s what I’m judging — not their bodies.

    I wear ugly clothes too from time to time, but I don’t have their money. I dress ugly sometimes out of necessity. (And it’s not like I think they have to spend 10 000 on a dress. I’m sure they could find something nice for a couple hundred dollars, which is expensive for me, but cheap for them).

  37. Godwina says:

    I’ve always felt that, of all the royals (in-born and in-wed), these sisters are the least offensive and possibly the coolest (though it’s a bloody low bar, I know). But their clothes Hurt. My. Eyes.

  38. Monique says:

    I liked Beatrice dress I thought it would be perfect for Kate or Meghan I think they just don’t know how to dress for their shape Zara is not slim but she looked nice yesterday

  39. Mego says:

    I agree. I love their curviness and the fact they eschew plastic surgery. They are natural what you see is what you get and I admire it frankly. I like lots of their outfits but their Ascot ones tend to miss the mark. Mind you so did a lot of others this year😏

  40. Jen says:

    I feel badly for them. Meghan and Kate were chosen by their respective spouses at least in part because of their looks – I believe that is what initially drew both men to their wife. Which is fine- attraction is an important part of a romantic relationship. Yet then these two are always criticized for not having the beauty of those women when they were “chosen” by birth to be part of the family. Are they supposed to get plastic surgery to fix whatever the tabloids decide is wrong with them?

    Also, many of the elite group in England doesn’t really work but lives off family money. However, if B&E live off their father’s money, it is a news story.

    Eugenie’s look would have been nice, imo, if not for the oddly placed darting.

    • notasugarhere says:

      They have their own money, left to them by the Queen Mum. Sarah refused a settlement and instead her money was also put away in trust for Beatrice and Eugenie.

  41. perplexed says:

    I think they do face criticism over their weight and looks but at the same time I think that’s what all of the royal ladies face. Princess Diana met the criteria for being stunning in a royal way, and she developed an eating disorder. So I don’t think they’re getting it MORE than what the other ladies are getting. I think they’re all scrutinized in ways that would drive me insane. Should people do it? NO. But I think they’re all getting it.

    I do think their work lives might be game though. If everyone from William to Kate to Harry to Meghan have to get it, I don’t see why it would be different for them either.

    • tempest prognosticator says:

      They face the same criticism that Kate and Meghan face. I’ve read plenty of comments on Celebitchy that body-shamed Kate and dissected her looks. William and Harry aren’t immune from physical critiques either. None of them should read gossip sites if they don’t want to get their feelings hurt by strangers – problem solved.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Difference is they’re not supported by the taxpayers. Why do so many feel the need to tear them apart when the Yorks are in the strange in-between of having famous relatives while they’re private citizens?

      • perplexed says:

        To be honest, I don’t care about them. I have no issue as to how they were born appearance-wise This blog covers them — we respond. The blame may have to lie with the point of origin. But in general I’d rather look at a photo of Prince Louis.

        If they’re putting themselves out there as celebrity “blood princesses” then I don’t think it matters much that they’re not using taxpayer money. Kim Kardashian doesn’t use taxpayer money either, but that doesn’t stop people from criticizing her.

  42. Tina says:

    I think they look perfectly nice. The problem is that they have the faintly ridiculous Princess titles. Zara Tindall is a normal, healthy, athletic woman whose weight fluctuates a bit, as most women’s does. But no one comments on her weight, because she doesn’t have a title, even though she is arguably more of a public figure (she won BBC Sports Personality of the Year) than either Beatrice or Eugenie.

    • perplexed says:

      I feel as though Zara might lead less of a socialite’s type of life. I think if you’re attending events as a socialite type you might face the difficulty of being criticized.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Zara makes plenty of money off her royal connections and in socialite and racing circles. Her eventing career is based not just on her abilities but the posh royal-adjacent upbringing and connections that came with it. She was selected for the London Olympics, over other perhaps better qualified people, because she is the Queen’s granddaughter.

      • perplexed says:

        I suppose, but I don’t see profiles on her where she’s talking about being a princess (although I guess technically she’s not since her mom refused the titles) in high-profile magazines. I think she has done interviews on camera, but I think those interviews tend to be related to the Queen or her charity initiatives. When you put yourself out there talking about being princesses, you are going to face criticism. That goes for all of the royals. I didn’t mean to suggest that she’s some kind of hermit, but Eugenie and Beatrice seem to put themselves out there with the interviews. The easiest way to avoid critique is to hang back like Princess Anne and go about your work quietly (although I suppose at times even she’s been referred to as looking like a horse). As the Princess Anne example illustrates, however, I don’t think any of them are immune to criticism (except maybe the Queen, who can send everyone off to the Tower of London if she’s upset. Just kidding).

        I think Zara’s husband has faced critique, but if it’s bothering her she seems smart enough to appear unbothered.

  43. HeyThere! says:

    People talking about their weight is EXACTLY why Kate stays so slim working out nonstop.

  44. Maria says:

    Well if the camera adds ten pounds, then what does Kate look like in real life? And I’m sorry, Bea’s dress is awful!

  45. Sue Denim says:

    agree w others that these are two lovely women who just need a better stylist. As a petite who has to be careful w clothes too, I’d say the texture of the purple dress adds too much bulk, even on the sleeves, but otherwise the shape could be good, and the blue dress would be better w a v-neck, and no no no to the darts…

  46. A says:

    This makes me sad. I don’t doubt that they’ve inherited a lot of self-image issues from their mom. We know how Sarah got raked over the coals by the press for her figure, and parents tend to pass on these types of body image related anxieties to their children, especially mothers to daughters.

    I think they always look good, and I think their style is eclectic and interesting. They clearly like the things they like, and it doesn’t always look good, but the thing they do differently from Kate is that they know how to keep it fun. It just sucks that they come under so much flak when they seem like nice enough people tbh.

  47. Dizzy says:

    Eugenie looked amazing at her wedding. Better than Meghan. So I think it’s a matter of choosing a good designer and stylist.

    • Exhausted says:

      Better than Meghan?!?! I disagree, to each their own. I don’t even get the comparison when they both have very different styles.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I thought Eugenie’s dress tried hard but missed the mark. She looked happy and lovely, but the overall look wasn’t the best. The custom fabric with floral bands to mimic her grandmother’s dress made it fussy, and the strange plain fabric at the shoulders didn’t flatter.

    • Mego says:

      Oh good heavens she didn’t look better than Meghan 🙄

  48. Flying Fish says:

    Bea and Eug just need to dress to suit and accentuate their bodies. I wish I had Eug’s butt!

  49. ChamomileLawn says:

    Beatrice and Eugenie have better fashion sense than Kate. They seem like modern women who occasionally dabble in edgy (for a conservative) or individualistic style whereas Kate’s style is just frumpy & try hard toff.

    • perplexed says:

      I don’t think they have better fashion sense than Kate, not if that toilet bowl hat one of them wore to Kate’s wedding is anything to go by.

  50. celialarson12 says:

    I wonder who pays for their living expenses, when these princesses marry a not super wealthy man. I imagine they are used to having cooks, maids, housekeepers, gardeners and chaufførs. A single outfit can cost more than most people`s monthly salaries. Not to forget when the children come and they have to attend expensive fee paying schools in a addition to family homes in expensive neighbourhoods. In this case Iam not thinking of the princess Royal, who is working royal.

  51. ChiaMom says:

    I have a bit of fun when they are wacky but I love it. They should not be bullied! Those darts are offensive though who hates her.

  52. Katebush says:

    I think their fashion sense is awful but they’re definitely not overweight either of them.
    I thi k it’s refreshing to see normal sized people when everyone else is practically underweight.

  53. Trillion says:

    I feel like British royals always dress like old ladies with silly hats.

  54. Rina says:

    Celebrities (umbrella word) are intensely scrutinized on their appearance. This must place immense pressure on them to conform to certain “ideals” and “ideas.” With regard to the royals, Kate appeared athletic during the long dating period. But she began to whittle away by the time they were engaged. Similarly with Meghan (not during pregnancy, of course). We see this among the royals from other countries too.

    Beatrice and Eugenie are unfairly judged based on those unstated ideals and pressures. Neither is overweight. They have an atrocious fashion sense – that’s the problem. Get a great stylist who is adept at dressing curvier women.

    Embrace your beauty in all its glory, women!

  55. Justwastingtime says:

    Wouldn’t it be great if Christian Siriano dressed them?

  56. questalynne says:

    Both women look better with clothes having structure—in the fabric and shape. There are so many styles they could wear and with the number of clothes they have, why not dress for their body, especially for public events. Beatrice has looked terrific with flared skirts and fitted tops, and Eugenie with more clean silhouettes and her gorgeous wedding dress.

  57. tuille says:

    The Yorkie girls need stylist(s) and Bea needs someone to teach her how to do makeup. A few years ago, Kate was bashed constantly for wearing too much eyeliner. Seriously? Beatrice’s bug eyes are not enhanced by her heavy-handed, very dark liner. Add that to her unfortunate mouth with the too-short upper lip that doesn’t close over giant teeth & she’s a hot mess.
    Her Italian boyfriend is always looking at the camera whenever the twosome is photo’d – looks like he’s a publicity hog, hanging with Bea for whatever perks there are. And Bea’s dress for the last wedding @ Windsor was horrible! Exposed midriff in a church?? Very poor taste. Grandma probably didn’t dig it either.
    Eug has a pretty face but her clothes rarely fit. Maybe her weight fluctuates? She’s often seen with the wrinkled midriff which means the dress is too tight.