INGRID SEWARD 

The two telling moments that revealed how the royals REALLY feel about Beatrice and Eugenie at Peter Phillips’ wedding

THE presence of Princess Beatrice and a pregnant Eugenie at the Gloucestershire wedding of Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips illustrated how much the extended royal family cares for them.

They of all people understand what it is like to be under intense public scrutiny. Almost all of them, including the King, have suffered deeply embarrassing publicity in different ways.

The girls and their well-heeled husbands might not be especially close to Peter Phillips, but they are first cousins and always good company.

Usually, it’s the bride and groom who share the most newsworthy kiss at a society wedding but this time all eyes were on Beatrice meeting William.

His display of familial warmth showed that the sisters are most definitely still in the fold.

William has known the girls all their lives. Whatever his feelings for their father – and he has made no secret of his fury at the damage Andrew’s actions have heaped upon the monarchy – both he and Catherine have been clear on one point: the sins of the father are not the sins of the daughters.

Zara also showed genuine warmth as she enveloped Beatrice in a massive bear hug in her typically effusive way.

But scandal still swirls around Beatrice and Eugenie. The King’s financing of their rent made headlines as they trotted up to the church.

Some would say it was brave of the girls to be so public after the intense scrutiny of recent weeks. Others might find it strangely unfeeling as if they have, by now, developed an immunity not only to the cameras but also to the finer feelings of the British public.

Hopefully they never share the same sort of shamelessness as their father and are not seen as freeloading off their association with the monarchy.

The King has always cared for Princess Beatrice and respected her misplaced loyalty to her father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

He was determined to look after her and her family. It is what the late Queen did before him, and he wanted to continue her largesse.

A royal wedding, even one on the sidelines, is a happy occasion.

Peter Phillips is probably the most popular member of the extended family.

His grandfather Prince Philip adored him and was never happier than when he could take Peter duck flighting on the wetlands of Sandringham.

The Queen loved him very much too. When Princess Diana died Peter flew immediately to Balmoral and took William and Harry rough shooting around the estate to keep them thoroughly occupied.

The family were genuinely sad when Peter’s first marriage to Autumn collapsed, but they would have been thrilled to see him find someone as grounded as paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling.

The attractive forty-five-year-old, a devout Christian, seems to have glided effortlessly into public life. She and Peter first met at a local sports event where his daughters, Savannah and Isla, and her own daughter, Georgina, were competing side by side.

There is nothing dull about Harriet and she admitted she used to be a real party girl. Having brought up her daughter on her own after the collapse of her marriage she also kept a stressful job as an intensive care children’s nurse.

This popular and attractive couple are proof of how modern the monarchy is becoming. The blended family, the second marriages and the fact they all seem to get along so well is encouraging for the future.

Peter and Harriet will never be expected to perform royal duties – Princess Anne made sure of that by refusing titles for her children.

But they are there in the background and I get the feeling that if in the future anyone needed a shoulder to lean on Peter and Harriet would provide it.

Ingrid Seward is author of My Mother & I and Editor in Chief of Majesty magazine.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/39332281/royals-reveal-true-feelings-beatrice-eugenie-peter-phillips-wedding/