Royal Ascot or New York polo match?
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice may not be on the Upper West Side—perhaps, the West End would be more accurate—but the sister duo channeled Manhattan's elite during day two of Royal Ascot. The princesses attended the annual horse-racing event in coordinating pink looks that could have belonged to on-screen besties Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf from the hit show Gossip Girl.
Perhaps Beatrice's tie to Blair was most obvious, as the royal wore a long-sleeved pink floral belted dress with a Queen B-approved staple: a headband. She forwent a fascinator and instead opted for a statement headpiece with ribbon details and flower appliqués.
Eugenie, on the other hand, wore a blush hat with a tassel detail, reminiscent of Serena's controversial graduation look. In case you forgot, during their graduation from Constance Billard, Serena ditched a traditional mortarboard cap and pinned a lone tassel to a strand of her hair (a meme that lives on to this day). The princess paired her fascinator with a matching ribbed dress.
The sisters were photographed catching up with their cousin, Prince William, who also seemed to find the tassel amusing, as he can be seen pushing the piece back from Eugenie’s face as she laughed. During the festivities, the sisters were also spotted conversing with Kate Middleton’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, as well Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, their aunt.
Although William plans to continue inviting his cousins to future royal engagements, experts don’t believe that the sisters would become working members of the family. It could even potentially cause tension in the family if they were to take on more responsibility, according to public relations expert Grayce McCormick.
“The emergence of new working royals may fuel comparisons and competition within the royal family,” McCormick previously told The Mirror. “It could potentially lead to internal tensions or conflicts that could damage the monarchy’s public image.”