Beatrice’s ‘eyebrow-raising’ move sh0cks Will and Kate
Princess Beatrice has reportedly “stunned” the Prince and Princess of Wales after making a high-profile public move during one of the toughest moments her family has faced.
Backlash Around Timing and Optics
The 37-year-old daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson hosted an “afternoon tea” at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel on the very day the Future Investment Initiative summit began, from October 27–30 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre—where Beatrice was attending for the Future Investment Initiative.
The outing landed squarely amid a renewed storm surrounding her parents. Recently resurfaced emails between Andrew, Sarah and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, along with the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumously published memoir, sparked a fresh wave of scrutiny.
The aftermath has been severe. Both the former Duke and Duchess of York were stripped of their remaining honours and royal patronages, and King Charles III ultimately requested they leave their 30-room home, Royal Lodge, after nearly 20 years of occupancy.
The Event That Turned Heads
Beatrice’s gathering was promoted as an “afternoon tea with Princess Beatrice of York” on the first day of the summit. The invitation, published by Mail Online, revealed the event was co-hosted by Canadian wellness founder Ruma Bose alongside the Lioness Collective, a US consultancy group, and Lioness Collective.
The theme of the afternoon was described as “sharing insights and bold ideas for investing in women, wellness and the next generation of leaders.” The event promised conversations about “bold ideas for investing in women, wellness and future leadership.”
Those in attendance spoke glowingly of Beatrice, who runs her own advisory business, BY EQ, and also runs her own business advisory firm BY EQ. Some described her as “the star” of the conference.
Echoes of Old York Roles
Beatrice’s visibility also revived questions about her direction. Observers began speculating whether she was poised to “unofficially resume” parts of the work her father once oversaw as the UK’s trade envoy—a post he held for ten years, building long-standing connections to Saudi leadership.
With that context in mind, her choice of venue caused a stir. The Ritz-Carlton was the same site used during Saudi Arabia’s 2017 anti-corruption purge, when several princes and business elites were detained—an episode widely criticised for allegations of mistreatment.
Back in Britain, insiders raised concerns about optics, optics that might feel misaligned while her parents were at the centre of public condemnation.
A Palace ‘Blindsided’?
According to British tabloid Closer, the outing “blindsided” the Prince and Princess of Wales.
“It was seen as tone-deaf, especially given the venue’s reputation and the recent controversies surrounding Andrew and Sarah,” a source told the outlet.
The insider also added: “William and Kate were genuinely upset when the pictures emerged. They have been very supportive of Beatrice and Eugenie and hope now that they will tow the Palace line.”
New Rules Moving Forward
The same source claims the Palace has since tightened expectations. The royal institution has now “made it crystal clear” that public engagements must be “signed off and vetted by senior aides” before being approved.
“There’s now a push inside the Palace to impose an ‘office-style’ approval system on Beatrice and Eugenie’s future activities—to ensure there’s no repeat of such headlines,” the insider explained.
“They can’t risk another scandal linked to the York name. They can’t afford another controversy tied to the York name.”
Still Royal, But Carefully Watched
Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie, 35, are not working royals, but both continue to use their HRH styling despite their parents facing a royal reckoning.
King Charles III is believed to remain protective of his nieces and intent on preserving their place in the royal fold as Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughters.
“They can’t risk another scandal linked to the York name,” the source said again.
King Charles III is also understood to remain “very keen” to safeguard their royal status for the long term.
