Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have reportedly scored a significant show of support from the Royal Family after being invited to an upcoming high-profile royal wedding- despite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle missing out on the guest list.
The York sisters, aged 37 and 36, have largely kept out of the spotlight in recent months following the fallout surrounding their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson.
Earlier this year, the release of the Epstein files reignited scrutiny surrounding the disgraced former Duke of York, who was later arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Amid the ongoing controversy, Beatrice and Eugenie are reportedly set to attend their cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to Harriet Sperling at All Saints Church in Kemble, Gloucestershire, on Saturday, June 6.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are expected to attend the wedding, alongside senior royals including the groom’s mother, Princess Anne, Prince William and Princess Catherine, and Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie.
Notably absent from the reported guest list are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, despite Harry also being Peter Phillips’ cousin.
Unsurprisingly, York sisters’ disgraced parents are also understood to have been excluded from the event.
“The Royal Family needs good news and nothing unites like a big church wedding,” a source told The Sun.
“Beatrice is going and Eugenie is in the second trimester of her pregnancy but hopes to attend.
“The King always wanted both to remain part of the family.”
Meanwhile, a palace insider told New Idea that the atmosphere surrounding the York sisters had improved in recent weeks following news of Eugenie’s third pregnancy.
“You can’t imagine how relieved Beatrice and Eugenie were to be invited, but things have been looking up since the Palace announced Eugenie’s pregnancy,” the source said.
“This is being discussed as an unofficial return to the royal fold and Peter’s low-key family wedding is the perfect setting.”
The reported invitation comes during what many royal watchers have described as a period of exile for the sisters, who were repeatedly mentioned alongside their parents throughout coverage of the Epstein files.
There have also been claims Prince William is keen to distance the monarchy from the York branch of the family.
Beatrice and Eugenie were notably absent from a recent royal gathering marking the centenary of the late Queen Elizabeth II, while they also skipped the Easter Sunday service attended by senior royals earlier this year.
Neither sister has reportedly visited their father since his arrest in February, despite Eugenie currently expecting her third child.
According to a friend of the bride and groom, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were deliberately left off the wedding guest list to avoid overshadowing the day.
“When and whether Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson had been invited, it was probably not deemed appropriate to invite them,” the friend told Hello.
“It’s Peter and Harriet’s special day, and clearly their attendance would cause a distraction to the whole day.”
The source also claimed Peter and Prince Harry are no longer close, which is believed to be the reason the Duke of Sussex was not invited.
“Peter and Harry haven’t spoken for several years and have simply lost touch, so he hasn’t been invited,” they said.
Peter, 48, shares daughters Savannah, 14, and Isla, 13, with his ex-wife Autumn Phillips, while NHS nurse Harriet, 45, has a 15-year-old daughter, Georgina, from a previous relationship.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.skynews.com.au ’
