Princess Eugenie is ‘reluctant’ to take on more royal duties as it ‘takes up your whole life’: ex-butler

Princess Eugenie is “reluctant” to step up and take on additional royal duties, according to King Charles’ former butler.

With the monarch, 75, and Kate Middleton, 42, out of their palace offices as they undergo their respective cancer treatments, the royals have been grasping at straws to have certain members step up and take on more work.

And according to Grant Harrold, who worked for Charles for seven years when he was the Prince of Wales, Princess Eugenie is not looking to add any more to her plate at this time.

“Princess Eugenie is probably cautious to step up to royal duties because it does take up your whole life. I’ve seen the schedules, and you can’t switch it on and off,” Harrold told The Post.

Eugenie, who welcomed her second son, Ernest, in May 2023 with husband Jack Brooksbank, is simply not prepared for the intense demands stepping up entails, Harrold said. They are also parents of August, 3.

“Eugenie is very keen to have her own career, and that’s something she is very passionate about — so yes, she probably is reluctant to take on royal duties,” he said of the princess, who celebrated her 34th birthday over the weekend.

“She’s currently a non-working royal but as times become more desperate, it’s very likely we will see her move from that to become a working senior member of the family.”

Elsewhere, Harrold notes that with Eugenie being close to both Prince William and Prince Harry, it could mean that she can act as a “peacemaker” between the feuding brothers.

“Eugenie is very close to William and Harry, she always has been, always will be,” he said on behalf of Fruity Slots. “I’m sure that if she could, she would probably try to play peacekeeper with William and Harry, but it’s hard to say, as we don’t know exactly what is going on behind closed doors.”

“I’m sure if she can help, she probably would try and intervene between the two of them. If she can help bring the brothers back together, of course she would. She’s their cousin and she cares about them both deeply,” Harrold added.

It comes as Eugenie’s mother Sarah Ferguson, who is currently battling cancer herself, spoke out following Middleton’s diagnosis.

“All my thoughts and prayers are with the Princess of Wales as she starts her treatment,” Fergie, 64, said in a statement on Monday.

“I know she will be surrounded by the love of her family and everyone is praying for the best outcome.”

The Duchess of York announced her malignant melanoma diagnosis in January, revealing that it came less than a year after her breast cancer diagnosis.

Ferguson had a mastectomy in the summer of 2023 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.