Prince Charles ‘intervened’ to strip Princess Beatrice and Eugenie of their security, leaving Prince Andrew very ‘angry’

Prince Charles reportedly ‘intervened’ believing they were unlikely to become working royals...

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Prince Charles was reportedly involved in the decision to strip Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of their security in a move that’s said to have left their father Prince Andrew “angry”. 


Prince Charles is the highest in the royal line of succession and is often understood to be involved in important decisions affecting the Royal Family. He is said to have been involved in stripping Prince Andrew of his royal patronages and military honors, no doubt leaving many wondering what is a royal patronage and what will happen to his now? Reports have claimed the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are “furious” with the Duke of York and he now defends Virginia Giuffre’s civil case against him as a “private citizen” having vehemently denied the accusations against him. 

Prince Charles’ influence when it came to Prince Andrew losing his honors has not been confirmed. Although it’s not the first time his intervention has supposedly affected the royal status of the York family. Back in 2011, his nieces Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie lost their around-the-clock police protection, reportedly leaving Prince Andrew very “angry” indeed…

Queen Elizabeth II (R) accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (L), Princess Eugenie, (C), and Princess Beatrice at Castle of Mey

(Image credit: Photo by Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Two of the Queen’s children, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, are understood to only have police protection when carrying out royal duties. While Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who are working royals, are understood to have costly 24-hour security. This is something that several of the Queen’s grandchildren once had, including Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

However, this all changed when the decision was made to strip the York sisters of their taxpayer-funded security during a debate about funding. As reported by The Mirror, royal expert Richard Kay opened up on the Channel 5 documentary, Beatrice and Eugenie: Pampered Princesses? about the way Beatrice was supposedly protected 24 hours a day while traveling during her gap year. 

“She was sort of flitting from country to country as most middle class young people do who take gap years. But, of course, she was accompanied by police bodyguards,” Kay told viewers. “That meant that we the taxpayers were paying for policemen to accompany her to the fleshpots of the world.”

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice attend a National Service of Thanksgiving

(Image credit: Photo by Zak Hussein - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Prince Charles then reportedly stepped in, believing that his nieces were unlikely to become working royals and as such didn’t need this level of security. 

Royal expert Angela Levin claimed, “Prince Charles decided that as they were not likely to be very senior royals, that this was too much for the public to pay, so he stopped that.

“Prince Andrew was so angry that he wrote a note to the Queen,” she went on to allege. "He said he wanted them to be considered as proper royals. He did not want the protection officers to leave them.”

Despite the Duke of York’s supposed anger, however, it’s understood that the stripping of security for the York sisters was upheld. 

Prince Harry with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice during the annual Trooping The Colour ceremony at Buckingham Palace

(Image credit: Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

They are not the only ones to lose it, however, as when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “stepped back” they lost theirs. This has now led Prince Harry to express fears that he's “not safe” in the UK as he takes action over a lack of protection ahead of his predicted return for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!