While the traditional Easter Sunday service at St. George’s Chapel is typically a show of solidarity, the guest list this year has ignited a sharp debate, questioning the role of the monarchy’s ‘spare’ branches moving forward. With Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie sidelined from the high-profile gathering, a new wave of criticism has emerged. Observers are now questioning if King Charles is inadvertently sowing the seeds of a future crisis, with royal expert Andrew Lownie suggesting that the monarch’s handling of his nieces’ titles is starting to mirror the same tactical errors made with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

King Charles, Princess Beatrice of York, and Princess Eugenie of York attend day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. (Image Source: Getty Images | Chris Jackson)
According to Lownie, the Palace is currently projecting a confusing image of the York sisters’ roles, one that constantly shifts between inclusion and exile. “The Royal Family seems to be repeating their mistakes with Andrew when it comes to Beatrice and Eugenie,” the royal biographer noted on his Lownie Report. He pointed to a series of “mixed signals” emanating from the Palace, which has only added to the public’s confusion. Lownie noted the jarring nature of their current status, observing, “They’re banned from Royal Ascot, they’re banned from Easter, then suddenly they are now coming to Ascot.”

Many royal experts believe this “half in, half out” existence is a precarious middle ground, something that is unsustainable. While Beatrice and Eugenie were mentioned in the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice, there has never been a suggestion of any wrongdoing on their part. Nevertheless, their proximity to the scandals of their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, is taking a toll on their public standing. The absence of the York sisters may also hint at a shifting power dynamic, according to Lownie. In his Substack, he referenced insights from royal commentator Tom Sykes, suggesting that the Easter snub could be a symptom of a transition in authority.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and King Charles attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Image Source: Getty Images | Peter Nicholls – WPA Pool)
He wrote, “Tom Sykes has pointed out that the Easter ban shows the waning power of the King in the face of an increasingly dominant William. This may well be the case, but if it is, then isn’t he repeating the mistakes of his father and grandmother?” While Beatrcie and Eugenie continue to navigate this uncertain terrain, the rest of the York family remains firmly in the cold. Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly spent an isolated Easter at Sandringham — a stark contrast to previous years when he joined the King and the wider Royal Family for the Windsor walkabout; meanwhile, Ferguson has similarly vanished from the public eye.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stands between his daughters, Princess Beatrice (l) and Princess Eugenie. (Image Source: Getty Images | Anwar Hussein)
Previously, reports have suggested that Fergie is currently ‘sofa surfing’ at the homes of wealthy friends like Priscilla Presley and Paddy McNally. Speaking on the Right Royal Podcast, expert Matt Wilkinson observed, “She went to Northern Ireland. She went to a spa there. She went to Verbier.” Although the former Duchess’s whereabouts remain unknown at the moment, the question remains whether her daughters will be utilized as assets or discarded as liabilities. The King’s strategy, for now, appears to be that of cautious distance. Lownie, however, suggests that this approach is a gamble that may only serve to repeat the mistakes of the past.