Queen’s beloved grandchildren Zara, Peter, Louise and James will miss public commemorations for her 100th birthday – all because of the Beatrice and Eugenie ‘problem’, according to a royal expert
The King and Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family met Queen Elizabeth II this week. It will mark the centenary of Elizabeth II’s birth but a royal expert has claimed Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are being ‘underrated’.
These series of events, held close to Her Late Majesty’s birthday on 21 April (the date she would have turned 100), are thought to be official engagements, so only working royals such as the Crown Princess will likely be present.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, II. He claimed that Elizabeth’s decision not to hold a service or engagement with her extended family was ‘unfortunately’ due to members who would have taken the spotlight away from the late Queen had they been invited.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are being snubbed on this anniversary because one person has to have the spotlight.’
For Prince Philip’s 100th birthday, his grandchildren, even non-working members, appeared in a posthumous documentary honoring the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The late Queen’s milestone was marked with a similar programme, but the only grandchild to appear was Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘Ideally, this anniversary would be marked either with a ceremony or a ceremony involving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially as several of them played a significant role in royal life and Queen Elizabeth takes her role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England so seriously.’
But the royal expert added: ‘An invitation certainly could not have been extended to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was recently arrested and embarrassed the royal family.
The King and Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family met Queen Elizabeth II this week. They will celebrate the centenary of Elizabeth’s birth – but a royal expert claims Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie (pictured in 2023) are ‘underrated’
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth with Charles, Eugenie and Beatrice at the Castle of Mey in Scotland in 2010
‘Daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie did not attend the Easter service with the royal family and have become particularly controversial due to their parents’ links to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, so they were not asked either.
He continued: ‘An invitation could not have been extended to Harry and Meghan, their behavior made the late Queen’s final years difficult and a media circus would undoubtedly have followed.
‘This means that conscientious members of the royal family, such as Peter and Zara, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, will not be included in the commemorations tomorrow, which is quite unfortunate.
‘But those who planned the events had no choice. These include the launch of a new charity, the unveiling of Queen Elizabeth’s unique fashion and commemorative plans, and a reception at Buckingham Palace.
‘While not ideally planned, they are an excellent alternative.’
Senior royals include the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Crown, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
It’s unclear exactly who will join the King and Queen at their Buckingham Palace reception on Tuesday, when the celebrations will end, but not all of the deceased Queen’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be included.
Guests at the reception will include some of the UK’s oldest citizens, who celebrate their 100th birthday on April 21, and the King will personally present centenary cards.
Catherine, Princess of Wales and James, Earl of Wessex attend the 2026 Easter Matins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on 5 April 2026
Charities and organizations linked to the late Queen are also invited, including Cancer Research UK, the Jockey Club and the Army Benevolent Fund.
Former members of the monarchy will visit the British Museum to see a scale model of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial, along with architect Lord Foster, who was awarded the contract to design the national monument, during a reception attended by the prime minister.
The memorial will also feature a ‘family of gardens’ stretching across St James’s Park, featuring winding paths and a new translucent, glass unity bridge.
During the day, the Princess Royal visited Queen Elizabeth II in Regent’s Park in London. It will officially open the Elizabethan Garden and on 20 April the King and Queen will unveil a new exhibition at The King’s Gallery featuring the late monarch’s wardrobe – Queen Elizabeth II. She will be visiting Elizabeth: Her Life in Style.
Details about the engagement of the Prince and Princess of Wales during the Queen’s centenary celebrations will not be confirmed until nearer the time.
Charles reportedly wrote a speech for the occasion commemorating his mother’s 70-year reign and highlighting her legacy and services.
Queen Elizabeth died peacefully at her home in Balmoral on September 8, 2022, aged 96, after serving as the nation’s longest-reigning monarch for 70 years, mourned by family and friends and remembered by the country.
For the woman who could never dominate, the Queen has fulfilled her promise to serve the nation and the Commonwealth and come to command the respect of many, from world leaders to the public.
