Prince Harry dealt fresh blow as 'closest cousin' supports William at garden party

Prince Harry has been dealt his latest blow as Princess Eugenie, often dubbed his "closest cousin", was seen backing Prince William during a Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday.

The event was also attended by the royal's elder sister, Princess Beatrice, as well as their other cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, who stood by the side of the Prince of Wales as he held down the fort without the King or Kate Middleton in attendance.

The York sisters, who are the daughters of Prince Andrew, have so far maintained a reasonably neutral stance in the ongoing feud between the Sussexes and the Firm with Eugenie still keeping in close contact with Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.

Eugenie even popped in for a visit at their Montecito residential when she was in California, and had a conversational sit-down with the Duke of Sussex when he made a solo appearance for the King's Coronation last May.

However, neither she nor Beatrice attended the duke's Invictus Games 10th anniversary service earlier this month, which Harry specifically returned to the UK for, the Express reports.

The royals found shelter under umbrellas from the rain at the garden party yet still managed to dazzle with their fashion choices in the wet weather.

Eugenie opted for a white maxi dress complimented with a pink headpiece and a large bow accented with floral detail. She pulled her hair back from her face and completed her look with hoop earrings.

In contrast, her sister Beatrice stepped out in a crimson maxi dress adorned with pearl details by Beulah London, partnered with nude heels and a cream headband.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie steered clear of the Invictus Games service on May 8 to avoid stoking royal tensions.

Speaking to GB News, Fitzwilliams remarked: "They [Beatrice and Eugenie] would not have been expected to be there because that would have been a sign of a split in the Royal Family."

He continued: "You would have had royals there, some there and not others, that would have been seized on."

Fitzwilliams also noted that despite their close bond with Prince Harry, the York sisters wouldn't attend such an event without their uncle, King Charles's nod.

Amidst rumours that Eugenie might act as the mediator between Harry and the Royal family, former Royal butler Grant Harrold shared his insights with Fruity Slots, saying: "Eugenie is very close to William and Harry, she always has been, always will be."#

Harrold added: "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."

He concluded: "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."

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