Beatrice is royals' secret weapon in healing bitter rift with Harry, say experts

08 August 2023 , 11:55

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Beatrice is royals' secret weapon in healing bitter rift with Harry, say experts

Princess Beatrice could be the royals' "secret weapon" and play a crucial role in healing their bitter rift with Prince Harry, according to experts.

The ninth-in-line to the throne does not play a formal part in her uncle King Charles' slimmed-down monarchy and holds a normal job, as opposed to carrying out royal duties. However, she and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are regulars at Royal Family events and are among the few royals who retain a strong bond with Harry and wife Meghan Markle.

Beatrice, who turns 35 today, has come up against some tough times, including the scandal surrounding her father Prince Andrew and her mother Sarah Ferguson's breast cancer diagnosis. However, experts believe she dealt with this admirably - and could be best placed to solve the feud between the Sussexes and the King and Prince William.

Princess Beatrice is 35 today (PA)

Beatrice with husband Edo and cousin Prince Harry at the Coronation earlier this year (Getty Images)

Speaking to OK! magazine, brand and culture expert Nick Ede said: "Beatrice is a great role model for others who experience family troubles. She's dealt with a lot of turbulence in her life, including a broken home and a father – the Duke of York – who's been quite controversial. And she appears to have weathered those storms very well.

"She also has the ability to see both sides of the coin, so with regards to Harry's falling out with William and King Charles, she can be more open-minded and encourage both sides to discuss, talk about and potentially heal that rift. I think if anyone can heal it it'll be her or perhaps Princess Anne. Beatrice could well be the royals' secret weapon."

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Beatrice with Harry and younger sister Princess Eugenie - who are all said to be close (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond also explained that Beatrice is much more accessible than some family members - and much more relatable. She added: "Beatrice has put up with a lot of pressure and a lot of criticism in her life but she has really come into her own.

"We already have a divorced queen on the throne. Now we have a relatable princess. Beatrice is a stepmother, who talks publicly about her dyslexia and who has more recently had to deal with the trauma of her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, having breast cancer. It makes her much more accessible. She seems to be universally liked."

The comments come after an insider claimed Harry is "still best of friends" with Beatrice and her younger sister Princess Eugenie - but his rift with other royal relatives is 'really stressful' for them.

The cousins have always been close, and when Harry attended his father King Charles' Coronation in May without Meghan Markle, he sat with Beatrice and Eugenie and their husbands. In fact, Eugenie was the only royal to appear in Harry and Meghan's controversial Netflix docuseries last year.

Tensions between Harry and Meghan have remained high - especially in the wake of Harry's memoir Spare, where he was highly critical of his brother William, his father the King and Queen Camilla. But according to a source, his relationship with his younger cousins Beatrice and Eugenie is still strong.

The insider told PEOPLE: "They're still the best of friends and talk constantly. This whole drama between him and Meghan and the rift with the rest of the family has been really stressful for the girls. It’s hard to watch because they see both sides of it."

Jennifer Newton