Beatrice and Eugenie 'snubbed' from Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday commemorations

Ben McCaffrey
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:24:15 +0000

Princess Beatrice and Eugenie have been "snubbed" from Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday celebrations, a royal commentator has said.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, fresh from their controversial tour of Australia last week, are also set to miss out, while the late monarch's beloved grandchildren, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, are not expected to be present.

The events held around April 21, the day the late Queen would have turned 100, are thought to be official engagements, meaning only working royals are likely to be present.

But royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has claimed Beatrice and Eugenie have been specifically left out of the plans, to ensure the focus remains on the late Queen.

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"Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are being snubbed as attention on this anniversary must be on one person," he told the Daily Mail.

"An invitation could certainly not have been extended to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was recently arrested and who has disgraced the royal family," he added.

For Prince Philip's 100th birthday, working and non-working grandchildren took part in the commemorative documentary. For Queen Elizabeth, just one of her grandchildren featured: Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips.

The documentary did feature Queen Camilla, former US President Barack Obama, Sir Tony Blair and Sir David Attenborough.

Mr Fitzwilliams expressed regret dedicated family members such as Zara, Peter, Louise and James would miss the celebrations, describing this as "highly unfortunate", although he acknowledged planners "had no choice".

The commentator continued: "Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie did not attend the service at Easter with the royal family and have become controversial, especially owing to their parents' links to the deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, so they could not be asked either."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were likewise deemed unsuitable guests.

"Their behaviour made the late Queen's last years difficult and a media circus would undoubtedly have followed them," Mr Fitzwilliams noted on the couple.

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The centenary agenda encompasses several significant occasions. Today, the King and Queen visited The King's Gallery for the opening of Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, an exhibition celebrating the late sovereign's distinctive wardrobe.

A reception will also be held at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday that will bring together some of Britain's oldest residents who share the same April birthday as the late monarch.

The invitees, all born on April 21, 1926, received their hundredth birthday cards directly from the monarch in person, while representatives from organisations and charities closely linked to the late Queen, such as Cancer Research UK and the British Red Cross Society, will be present.

Later in the week, members of the royal household will visit the British Museum for the unveiling of a scale model of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial, designed by architect Lord Foster.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will join this reception to view plans for the national monument, which will incorporate gardens throughout St James's Park, winding pathways and a translucent glass unity bridge.

The Princess Royal will also officially open The Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent's Park as part of the commemorations.