By Richard Eden
There has been much speculation about a potential return to some royal duties for Prince Harry.
However, at New York Climate Week all the talk was about a bigger role in ‘The Firm’ for one of his cousins, who was also in the city.
Princess Beatrice was in the Big Apple for a Youth Impact Council event while her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York was there to take part in a Global Citizen panel talk about Climate Solidarity in the Commonwealth.
Before she set off, Fergie, 64, spoke to me about how Beatrice, 36, and her sister, Princess Eugenie, 34, were trying to follow in the footsteps of their late grandmother Queen Elizabeth when it comes to public service and duty.
‘All the York family have always been 100 percent in support of their grandmother and what Britain stands for, and the integrity of good values and the monarchy,’ she tells me. ‘I always brought them up that if you feel bad about yourself, give to others and then you’ll feel better.’
Sarah, Duchess of York was in the Big Apple to take part in a Global Citizen panel talk about Climate Solidarity in the Commonwealth
Speaking at a Knights of Charity event, the duchess adds of her daughters with Prince Andrew: ‘They are extraordinary at what they do. Eugenie has the Anti-Slavery Collective and other things. Beatrice is really extraordinary about dyslexia and education. Big Change is her charity to make education more accessible all over the world.’
King Charles is said to see no role as ‘working royals’ for his nieces, but there have been signs that Prince William could see the value in leaning on his cousins when he ascends the throne.
In May, Beatrice and Eugenie attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace to support the Prince of Wales in the absence of his wife, Catherine. They were joined in the rain by their cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips.
A palace source said at the time: ‘It was very much that the Prince of Wales wanted to invite his cousins along because [he knew] it would be fun to see all of the young royals there.’
Earlier that month, they made a surprise joint appearance as they attended a garden party at the Haven House Hospice, in Woodford Green, London, which works to ‘fund specialist care to children who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions’.
The duchess says her daughters have been inspired by her own philanthropy. She tells me: ‘It’s what I do. The most important message is, “Don’t just say it – do it”.’
Source: EDEN-CONFIDENTIAL-Prince-William-Beatrice-Eugenie-royal-duties
