Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are set for new royal roles amid Prince Andrew’s current scrutiny, commentators have claimed.
The Princesses of York have emerged as unofficial cultural ambassadors in the Middle East, making multiple high-profile visits to the region in recent months.
Beatrice, 36, has attended two significant conferences in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi within the past month. Her sister Princess Eugenie, 34, has been engaging with Qatar’s cultural scene, particularly in the arts sector.
The royal sisters’ increased presence in the Middle East comes as their father, the Duke of York, faces scrutiny over the financial arrangements allowing him to remain at Royal Lodge.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie set for new royal roles amid Prince Andrew scrutiny
Getty
Their appearances have been particularly notable as senior royals, such as the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales, have reduced their visits to the region.
Princess Beatrice has taken a particularly active role in technology-focused events across the Middle East. At the Adipec energy conference in Abu Dhabi, she spoke passionately about artificial intelligence, describing it as “literally my favourite subject.”
“I’m probably making it my whole life’s mission to think about how hope and technology can kind of work in a collaboration mindset,” she told attendees at the conference, organised under UAE presidential patronage.
The princess, who founded BY-EQ in 2022, also attended Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative in late October, marking her second visit to the kingdom this year.
Andrew has refused to move out of Royal Lodge PAShe previously joined the World Economic Forum’s special meeting in Riyadh in April.
Princess Eugenie, who works as an art director at Mayfair gallery Hauser and Wirth, has been cultivating cultural connections in Qatar.
The mother-of-two was spotted at Doha’s M7 art centre and attended the Chaumet and Nature exhibition.
Her engagement with Qatar’s art scene follows her attendance at a London dinner last year hosted by Sheikha al-Mayassa, sister of Qatar’s emir.
Princess Eugenie looking radiant in yellow during an appearance in Qatar
Instagram / Princess Eugenie
Gulf correspondent Jennifer Gnana of Al-Monitor has observed Princess Beatrice actively networking at regional events.
“Along with her sister Eugenie, Beatrice is now a regular at Saudi economic and investment conferences. She’s become a culture ambassador of sorts for the UK in the Middle East,” Gnana noted.
“Those with business backgrounds and associated with a world leader or a Royal Family tend to do particularly well here,” Gnana continued to tell The Times.
The princesses are seen as more accessible representatives of the British monarchy, particularly as senior royals make fewer visits to the region.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie pictured in Saudi ArabiaX / Amena Bakr“You don’t really see royal protocol with them,” Gnana added.
The princesses’ increased Middle Eastern presence coincides with ongoing questions about their father’s financial situation at Royal Lodge.
The Duke of York faces pressure to reveal the source of funds allowing him to remain at the 30-bedroom Windsor mansion, where he must pay £275,000 annual rent and contribute to security costs.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell has called for transparency, stating: “This is somebody who has not fulfilling any public duty and there are still question marks over his personal affairs.”
Andrew’s only official income is a £20,000-a-year navy pension, though he previously developed business contacts in central Asia and the Middle East as a UK trade envoy.