Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is increasingly shaping decisions inside the British monarchy, according to royal observers, with his reported influence now extending to the exclusion of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie from high-profile events such as Royal Ascot following the continuing fallout surrounding Prince Andrew.
The reported move, which has not been formally confirmed by Buckingham Palace, has drawn scrutiny because Royal Ascot remains one of the royal family's most visible annual appearances, traditionally signaling unity and hierarchy within the institution.
Royal commentator Andrew Lownie, speaking on his podcast The Lownie Report, described a clear shift in internal dynamics. He said, "William, I think, is calling more of the shots now. So there's definitely a change going on, and I get the sense also that there's a bit of distancing even from the Sussexes, clearly from the Waleses."
The comments reflect what some analysts see as a recalibration of royal strategy, with William taking a firmer stance toward reputational risks tied to his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has denied wrongdoing but remains associated with the broader Epstein controversy.
According to reporting cited by the Mirror and Daily Star, William's position has aligned with efforts to shield King Charles III from criticism over how the monarchy has handled Andrew's situation. The approach appears to prioritize institutional stability over family accommodation.
That strategy has now reportedly affected Andrew's daughters.
Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, were said to be excluded from Royal Ascot earlier this month, a decision that left them "completely blindsided," according to accounts cited in the reports. The sisters, who are not working royals, have maintained a relatively low profile following renewed scrutiny of their father.
Lownie questioned the way the decision was handled publicly, saying, "I think the decision to ban them from Ascot is interesting. The line that they're [Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie] pushing is that they were never going to go to Ascot in the first place, and it does seem odd to be so public about this distancing."
The episode underscores the ambiguous position occupied by Beatrice and Eugenie within the royal structure. While both retain their titles and social standing, they are not part of the monarchy's core working group, leaving their public roles subject to shifting internal calculations.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggested the situation could prompt a broader reassessment of how the sisters use their titles in public and professional settings.
She said, "I don't think either of them has ever flaunted their titles, but there's obviously a huge cachet in some circles about being called a Princess. A title like that opens doors and sets up connections, which both Beatrice and Eugenie have used to their advantage."
Bond added, "There's nothing wrong in that, but now that their father has been stripped of his titles and their mother can no longer use hers, they might like to quietly drop the use of theirs."
