Princess Beatrice and Eugenie open up about living life in the public eye: “It’s hard to navigate”
Princess Beatrice and Eugenie have opened up about living in the publicly eye, revealing that they both struggle with the constant “mockery” and criticism.
In the sisters’ first joint interview, they explained how they find it hard to be working women in an ‘Instagram’ world, where everything appears perfect on the surface.
The Queen’s granddaughters said that despite their family’s status, they were “real”.
Speaking to British edition of Vogue magazine, 29-year-old Princess Beatrice said: “It’s hard to navigate situations like these because there is no precedent, there is no protocol.
“We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and we’re also princesses, and doing all of this in the public eye.”
Princes Eugenie, 28, agreed with her sister.
"We want to show people who we are as working, young, royal women, but also not to be afraid of putting ourselves out there," said Eugenie.
"Nowadays it's so easy to recoil when you see a perfect image on Instagram – but it's important that it's real. We're real."
In recent years, the royals have been ridiculed for their fashion choices – including when Beatrice’s hat at Prince William and Kate’s 2011 wedding was likened to a toilet seat.
Beatrice has also faced scrutiny for the number of holidays she takes.
The sisters said there was "no point being angry with anyone for beating us up – we just need to shine light and love in the world".
However, they revealed that the criticism has impacted them on several occasions.
Eugenie recalled one day when both sisters were reduced to tears by the press, while attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
"There was a horrible article that had been written about Beatrice and she got really upset. We were just about to step out and she had a bit of a wobble and cried. I was looking after her. And then about an hour later, I had a wobble and started crying and Bea was there for me," she said.
In the interview the sisters opened up about their jobs, with Beatrice working at US technology company Afiniti and Eugenie working in a contemporary art gallery.
The royals, who describe each other as their “rocks”, are also busily preparing for Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October.
Beatrice has been confirmed as her sister’s maid-of-honour.
Eugenie said she was not a ‘bridezilla’, saying: “I’m not stressed at all. It’s nerve-racking because you want it to be perfect, but then you realise that you’re going to be with the person you love forever and nothing else really matters.”
Eugenie and Jack will marry in St George’s chapel, the same location as Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding.