The Royal Family are just days away from attending a major event in the royal calendar, with speculation growing over whether Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will join their relatives in Windsor. The King and Queen are set to lead the family at the annual Easter Sunday service on April 5.
Last year’s gathering was a smaller affair as the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children skipped the event to spend quality time together in Norfolk. The family-of-five also didn’t attend the 2024 service as it took place just weeks after Princess Catherine’s cancer diagnosis.
Royal expert Jennie Bond has said of this year’s pending service: “We’ve yet to see proof that William and Kate and the other royals are in fact distancing themselves from Beatrice and Eugenie – Easter will be telling.
“But I have no doubt that William is extremely sensitive to public opinion and he will do what is necessary to listen and to protect the reputation of the monarchy.”
It has been reported that William and Catherine were keen to distance themselves from Beatrice and Eugenie – who are currently dealing with the fallout of their parents’ connection with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Following news of Eugenie and Beatrice’s ban from this year’s Royal Ascot, William had also wanted the family to be careful with getting their picture taken next to his cousins.
Speaking earlier this month, one of the William and Catherine’s friends told the Daily Mail that the couple would even go as far as not attending Royal Ascot this year if Eugenie and Beatrice were present.
They said: “I can tell you that William and Catherine won’t go if any of the Yorks are there.”
The Mail on Sunday reported that the ban comes as part of a plan to exclude the sisters from public-facing events amid the scandal surrounding the House of York and its ties with Epstein.
A source said they had spoken to a friend who works at Ascot and they said the princesses have been told they can’t attend this year. They told the publication: “Beatrice has taken it the hardest. She’s been completely blindsided by all of this.”