STANDING STRONG WITH THE FIRM

Prince William supports his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie as loyal members of the future-facing royal family

- REPORT: ROBERT JOBSON

Prince William has drawn a line: the York sisters will not be collateral damage in their father's downfall. The Prince of Wales has made his position clear to the King and the courtiers who count: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are family. They will remain part of the family. And he has got their backs.

This is not just sentiment. A slimmed-down monarchy cannot afford to become a hollowed-out one. A modern royal family needs depth and dependable hands. It needs people who turn up, work hard and ask for nothing in return. Beatrice and Eugenie are seen as precisely that.

Speculation has swirled for months about their place in the future monarchy. Would Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's disgrace extend unfairly to his daughters? Would they quietly be removed from the inner circle? The answer is now beyond doubt.

STAYING CLOSE

“Both girls are close to their parents and are worried about them,” a senior insider says. “But their cousin Prince William has been very supportive of them and is in regular contact. He has very much got their backs.

“They are part of the family. He is standing by them. There is no question at all of them being pushed aside. They’re close cousins and have also been guests at royal garden parties he has hosted. No one wants any more drama now. They are poised for a new era.”

That new era is already beginning to take shape. As the stoic King leads the Firm while living with cancer, he consults more and more with his son and heir on issues that affect the long-term future of the institution.

As the same source explains: "Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are firmly part of the royal family and they all want to ensure that they can move forward as one."