#Megxit: Could Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie step in for the Sussexes?

With Harry and Meghan stepping back from public life, The Crown’s royal expert thinks two members of the family will be asked to step in and fill some of their duties 

A lot of questions were raised when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to retire from royal public life. One many royal experts ponder is who will share some of the duties that will still need to be fulfilled during their absence?

It can’t all go to Will and Kate, and The Crown‘s royal expert thinks the queen will ask her granddaughters’ Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to step in as a result.

Expert biographer and The Crown consultant, Robert Lacey, explained to Hello!: “It’s quite clear that one of the consequences is that Beatrice and Eugenie will now be brought forward – if they’re willing to be brought forward.”

Related: All you need to know about Harry and Meghan’s official stepping down as working royals

“If two go out, two have got to come in, and those two have got to be Beatrice and Eugenie. I’m sure they will step forward and be greatly welcomed.”

Beatrice and Eugenie — the daughters of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York — were allegedly examples Prince Harry cited to the queen, demonstrating how he and Meghan envisioned a more pared-down, low-profile life.

Both the princesses have regular full-time jobs that they balance with their royal duties. Beatrice works as the vice president at data and software company Afiniti and Eugenie is an art gallery director.

However, their stepping into a more public fray may not be ideal at this time, give the controversy that surrounds Prince Andrew’s stepping away from his royal duties. The queen may not wish to expose either to the media attention which would certainly come along with this.

Related: Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew: Behind the first royals to consciously uncouple

“It’s what the family needs as it’s another 15 years before Prince George’s generation steps up,” continued Lacey. “It’s ironic that Harry mentioned his cousins as models of how he wants to be.”

We’ll watch this space…

Main photograph: @HEGXIT