Queen’s call-up for Beatrice and Eugenie: Monarch wants her granddaughters to take on more duties

With Prince Harry and Meghan busy making their fortune in America, and Prince Andrew withdrawn indefinitely from royal duties, there is a gaping hole in ‘The Firm’.

And now the Queen has come up with what she hopes could be a solution. She is understood to want Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to carry out public engagements for the Royal Family.

‘Her Majesty thinks that her granddaughters should attend more royal events and carry out more duties,’ a courtier tells me.

The Queen (pictured during the State Opening of Parliament in December) is understood to want Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to carry out public engagements for the Royal Family

Prince Charles was previously thought to be opposed to Beatrice and Eugenie taking on official roles because this would conflict with his vision of a ‘slimmed-down’ monarchy when he becomes king.

However, I can reveal that the Prince of Wales would now be content for them to step up.

‘The Royal Family has already become slimmed down with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex giving up public duties,’ a close friend of Charles tells me. ‘As the older members of the family retire, it will become slimmer still, so there are spaces to be filled.

‘His Royal Highness is very fond of his nieces and would not stand in the way if they did want to carry out more duties.’

Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured at the Commonwealth Service in March 2019) stepped down as senior royals last month. The couple have begun their new life in Vancouver Island, Canada 

Up until now, Princesses Beatrice (right) and Eugenie (left) have attended occasional royal events, sometimes with their parents, Prince Andrew (centre) and Sarah, Duchess of York

The Prince of Wales would now be content for them to step up. Prince Charles has a vision of a a ‘slimmed-down’ monarchy when he becomes king.

Princess Beatrice, 31, will marry fiancé Italian property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 37, following a five-month engagement

Sarah, Duchess of York, with Princess Eugenie at the wedding of Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling in August last year

Newcastle graduate Eugenie, 29, has a full-time job as a director the Mayfair art gallery Hauser & Wirth. Beatrice, 31, who has a degree from Goldsmiths, University of London, works in finance and consulting.

Up until now, they have attended occasional royal events, sometimes with their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment on whether Beatrice and Eugenie want to take on more royal duties.