Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly drifting apart from Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, a significant development in the ongoing royal family drama. Once close allies, the cousins' relationship has cooled significantly, according to sources cited by the Express and other publications.
"Beatrice and Eugenie have firmly pledged their allegiance to the Royal Family," an insider told the Express. "They haven't communicated with the Sussexes for quite a while now. They are nowhere near as close as they once were."
Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, had maintained a strong bond with Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 34, even after stepping back from royal duties and relocating to California in 2020. Last year, People magazine reported that the foursome "talk constantly" despite the Sussexes' strained relationship with the rest of the royal family.
However, the dynamics appear to have shifted. "This whole drama between him and Meghan and the rift with the rest of the family has been really stressful for the girls," a source said last August. "It's hard to watch because they see both sides of it."
The rift reportedly deepened when Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, became cautious about their interactions with the Sussexes. "Eugenie and Jack are very careful about what they say to friends because they don't want to be seen as bad-mouthing Harry or Meghan," the source claimed. "There's still a friendship there but it's not like the close family bond they had before Harry moved to America."
Harry's estrangement from his immediate family, including his father King Charles, brother Prince William, and sister-in-law Kate Middleton, has been well-documented. The tension was palpable during Harry's return to London for Charles' coronation in May 2023. He was seated in the third row between Brooksbank and Princess Alexandra, Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, highlighting his peripheral position within the royal circle.
Eugenie, notably, was the only royal family member to appear in the Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," underscoring her previous closeness to the couple. She even accompanied Harry to the 2022 Super Bowl, showcasing their bond. Despite this, recent developments suggest a growing distance.
Adding to the complexity, Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie's mother, appeared to criticize Harry and Meghan without naming them directly. The Duchess of York stated in an interview last year that royals "can't have it both ways" when it comes to leaving the royal family. "You can't sit on the fence and keep one foot in and one foot out. You're either in or out," she said. "Don't cry about not being invited to weddings. You chose to leave, now go and live it - and be it."
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn suggested that William and Kate are "worried" about Harry and Meghan's relationship with his cousins. "They sense that Beatrice and Eugenie feel that, as virtual outcasts themselves, they have far more in common with Harry and Meghan than with any other part of the family," Quinn noted. This situation is exacerbated by Kate's ongoing treatment for cancer, which has limited her public engagements.
William's recent appearances with Beatrice, Eugenie, and their husbands at events like Royal Ascot reflect efforts to strengthen these familial bonds. This public display of unity underscores the shifting allegiances within the royal family.
A source also claimed that the Duchess of York's distancing comments about Meghan might have been strategic. Despite saying she "doesn't really know" Meghan, insiders suggest Sarah and Meghan interacted frequently when they lived near each other at Royal Lodge and Frogmore Cottage. "Both Harry and Meghan were quite surprised by Sarah's comments and couldn't understand why she would distance herself like that. It has caused a bit of distance between the families," the source added.
