Princess Eugenie: Wealth, Protocol & Public Perception

Most people can name a handful of senior royals, but the lives of those further down the line of succession often stay out of the spotlight. Princess Eugenie, currently 11th in line to the throne, balances a private career in the art world with public duties that occasionally raise eyebrows—especially around questions of wealth, protocol, and inherited features.

Born: 23 March 1990 · Place of birth: London, England · Spouse: Jack Brooksbank (married 2018) · Children: 2 · Line of succession: 11th

Here are the key facts most readers search for at a glance.

Comparing the Wealth of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Two sisters, two very different career paths—and a whole lot of online speculation about who has the deeper pockets. Here’s what the numbers actually say.

How do the sisters’ incomes differ?

Princess Eugenie works as a director at Hauser & Wirth gallery, a global contemporary art business, according to Harper’s Bazaar Australia. Her sister Beatrice, by contrast, took a role in finance at Afiniti, an AI company. Both women also receive private income from trusts set up by their mother, Sarah Ferguson, and from the Queen Mother’s estate, as The Times (UK) reported.

What are their net worth estimates?

No official figures exist, but multiple outlets estimate Eugenie’s net worth at roughly £4–5 million and Beatrice’s at £5–6 million, as The Independent noted. The gap is modest and largely driven by Beatrice’s longer stint in the private sector and a slightly larger trust inheritance.

The implication: without a public tax return, any “richer sister” claim remains guesswork. The real divide is career choice, not net worth.

Royal Curtsy Protocol: Does Kate Have to Curtsy to Beatrice and Eugenie?

The internet loves a curtsy debate. The answer, according to etiquette experts, is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

What does royal protocol say about curtsying?

The official royal family website guidance states there are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting any royal. However, tradition—and Debrett’s—outline a hierarchy. PEOPLE quoted Debrett’s: “Princesses of Royal Blood such as Beatrice and Eugenie rank above the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex when those women are not accompanied by their husbands.” So Kate, when alone, would theoretically curtsy to Eugenie.

Do Meghan and Kate curtsy to each other?

When accompanied by their husbands—both princes of the blood—the ranking reverses. Debrett’s says the Duchesses outrank the blood princesses in that context, per PEOPLE. In practice, public events often show royals exchanging handshakes, bows, or curtsies out of courtesy, not obligation.

Why this matters: the confusion stems from a system based on 1595 rules (InStyle), not modern common sense. For most royal-watchers, the real takeaway is that no one is compelled to curtsy—tradition just makes it customary.

Why Are Princess Beatrice’s Eyes So Big? Hanoverian and Sanpaku Eyes Explained

One of the most Googled questions about Beatrice has nothing to do with royal duties. It’s about her eyes—and the answer involves genetics, a Japanese aesthetic label, and a centuries-old European dynasty.

What are Hanoverian eyes?

The term Hanoverian eyes refers to prominent, wide-set eyes seen in several descendants of the House of Hanover. According to Historic UK, this feature is a genetic trait passed through the line that includes Queen Victoria—and by extension, Beatrice and Eugenie. It is not a medical condition, just a facial characteristic that became more pronounced in certain photographs.

What do sanpaku eyes indicate?

Sanpaku is a Japanese term describing eyes where the white is visible below the iris. Allure explains it’s purely a physical description, sometimes associated with superstition but not a medical diagnosis. Beatrice’s eye shape fits the description, but experts stress it’s simply a genetic trait, not a sign of anything ominous.

Is there a medical condition?

No. The Royal Family has never released a statement on Beatrice’s eyes, and no credible medical source has linked them to any disorder. As BBC News notes, the prominence is consistent with photographs of other Hanover descendants.

The pattern: what looks like a modern mystery is actually a centuries-old dynasty’s genetic fingerprint. The fascination says more about our curiosity with royal lineage than about Beatrice herself.

Who Is the Least Popular Member of the Royal Family?

Popularity among the royals isn’t static—and the least-liked slot shifts with each scandal. Here’s what the polls reveal.

How is royal popularity measured?

YouGov regularly surveys the British public. Their 2024 tracker showed Prince Andrew with net favourability around -60%, making him the clear least popular. Sarah Ferguson and Camilla also score low, but Andrew’s numbers are consistently the worst.

Which royals are most and least popular?

King Charles III, Prince William, and Princess Catherine top the YouGov rankings. Princess Beatrice and Eugenie sit in the middle—less well-known than senior royals but without the negative baggage of Andrew. BBC News noted that public awareness of the York sisters is lower because they are not full-time working royals.

The implication: Eugenie and Beatrice aren’t unpopular—they’re just invisible to a public that tunes in for working royals. That anonymity may protect them from the deep negative ratings their father faces.

Why Did Camilla Not Attend Princess Eugenie’s Wedding?

A wedding of two royals usually means a full family turnout. So why was Queen Camilla absent from Eugenie’s big day?

What was the reason given?

The official statement, reported by PEOPLE, said Camilla had a prior engagement—a long-standing commitment in Scotland. Buckingham Palace did not elaborate, and no rift was publicly acknowledged.

Was there a rift?

Speculation persists. Biographer Penny Junor, who wrote about Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, told The Times that tensions between Camilla and Sarah Ferguson may have played a role. However, no concrete evidence supports a feud—and Camilla attended Prince Harry’s wedding earlier that same year. The simplest explanation, according to etiquette experts, is a genuine scheduling conflict.

The catch: without transparency from the Palace, the “prior engagement” story remains the only official version. The public’s appetite for drama, however, keeps the question alive.

Timeline: Key Moments in Princess Eugenie’s Life

• 23 March 1990 – Born at Portland Hospital, London (BBC News)
• 12 October 2018 – Marries Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel (BBC News)
• 9 February 2021 – Birth of first son, August (BBC News)
• 30 May 2023 – Birth of second son, Ernest (BBC News)
• 2025 – Announcement of third child expected in summer (PEOPLE)

Quotes from Experts

“The hierarchy described in royal protocol dates back to 1595, but in modern practice, there are no obligatory codes of behaviour. A handshake is perfectly acceptable.”

— InStyle, citing royal protocol experts

“Princesses of Royal Blood rank above the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex when those women are not accompanied by their husbands.”

— PEOPLE, quoting Debrett’s

“The York sisters are blood princesses by birth, which gives them a higher protocol rank than some working royals in certain social contexts.”

— Harper’s Bazaar Australia, royal commentator

“Polling shows that the least popular royals are consistently those tied to scandals—Andrew, Sarah Ferguson—while the York sisters remain in a middle ground of low awareness.”

— YouGov, polling expert Sir John Curtice

For the British public, the interest in Princess Eugenie reveals a fascination with the edges of the monarchy—curtsy rules that aren’t enforced, genetic traits that invite amateur diagnosis, and wealth that remains private. The implication for anyone following the royal family: the most interesting stories aren’t about the crown, but about the people who live just outside its full glare. For the York sisters, the choice is clear—stay in the shadows and build independent lives, or step into the spotlight and face the scrutiny that comes with it.

In the wake of their father’s scandal, many have wondered about Eugenie and Beatrices royal fate and the impact on their public roles and privileges.

Frequently asked questions