Princess Beatrice Takes on More Responsibilities During the Royal Family's Health Crisis

Princess Beatrice Is ‘Stepping Up’ Royal Duties Amid the Family's Ongoing Health Crisis

Princess Beatrice Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Princess Beatrice is taking on more responsibilities within the royal family, according to a source close to her mother, Sarah Ferguson. It has been reported that Beatrice, 35, will be increasing the number of engagements she participates in as the royal family faces health crises.

The insider clarified that Beatrice will not be filling in for Princess Kate Middleton, but her new role will involve assisting the royals and being more available.

Kate, who is Beatrice's cousin-in-law and 42 years old, reduced her public duties earlier this year due to a planned abdominal surgery in January. During Student Mental Health Week, Beatrice attended a public event while the Princess of Wales was recovering.

In March, Kate shared that she was receiving treatment for cancer, leading to her absence from public appearances. During this time, news also broke that Beatrice had caught the attention of King Charles III and Prince William, with discussions underway to involve her more in royal duties.

According to U.K.’s Ok! Magazine, both the King and William were impressed by Beatrice's recent efforts and were considering giving her a more prominent role in representing the family publicly. While initially a temporary measure to support Charles and Kate during their recovery, this could potentially become a more permanent arrangement in the future.

Princess Beatrice Is ‘Stepping Up’ Royal Duties Amid the Family's Ongoing Health Crisis

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice of York. Dave Benett/Getty Images for Raffles London

Beatrice, the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Ferguson and ninth in line to the throne, is not currently a full-time working royal, but this could change in the future.

Prince Charles, aged 75, had previously planned to create a smaller monarchy once he became king. However, with both him and Kate recently staying out of the public eye, royal historian Gareth Russell stated last month that this outcome was not what was originally intended. (Charles became king following Queen Elizabeth II's passing in September 2022.)

Russell further explained that if you were to use a metaphor, the monarchy is currently underweight. The original plan was never for it to grow as much as it did. The expectation was always for [King] Charles III to reign with three working siblings, two working children, and their spouses, which was seen as a sustainable foundation for the monarchy's future.

Now with Charles and Kate both receiving treatment for their respective illnesses, the remaining active members include his siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, as well as his son William. (It is worth mentioning that Prince Andrew lost his titles in 2022 following allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied. Additionally, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to step back from their royal duties in 2020.)

Currently, we are observing a monarchy that was struggling to manage the numerous functions, events, overseas visits, as well as their charitable and military duties. Russell mentioned that this situation could potentially become unsustainable.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the increasing responsibilities placed on Princess Beatrice within the royal family. As health crises impact senior royals, Beatrice is stepping up to support the monarchy. While not a full-time working royal, she is expected to play a more prominent role, assisting the King and other active members in fulfilling their duties.

This shift reflects the challenges faced by the monarchy in maintaining a sustainable and effective presence. The original plan for a smaller monarchy has been disrupted by health issues and the departure of certain members. As a result, the remaining active royals are under increasing pressure to manage the workload. Beatrice's involvement demonstrates the need for the monarchy to adapt and find ways to balance its responsibilities while ensuring the continuity and stability of the institution.