A documentary claims the royal’s gap-year style trips required police protection, leaving the public to foot the bill.
Princess Beatrice once left British taxpayers facing a bill of nearly £250,000 after travelling abroad for several months, according to claims highlighted in a recent television documentary.
The programme, Beatrice and Eugenie: Pampered Princesses, aired on Channel 5 and featured commentary from royal commentator Richard Kay. It revisits a period when Beatrice spent around four months travelling overseas, moving from one destination to another much like many young people do during a gap year.
Kay explained that the difference, however, was the level of security required. Because she was a member of the Royal Family, the trips involved police protection officers accompanying her during the journeys.
That security presence significantly increased the cost. Kay suggested the public ultimately paid for officers to travel alongside the princess during what were largely personal trips abroad.
Royal biographer Angela Levin also addressed the issue in the documentary, noting that the situation eventually caught the attention of King Charles when he was still Prince of Wales.
According to Levin, he decided the arrangement was too expensive for the public to continue funding. With Beatrice and her sister not expected to become senior working royals, the decision was made to end the taxpayer-funded protection during such trips.
The move reportedly angered their father, Prince Andrew, who is said to have written a note to the late Queen arguing that his daughters should be treated as “proper royals”. He also expressed that he did not want their security protection removed.
Despite the earlier controversy, Beatrice still holds a prominent place in the royal line of succession. She currently sits ninth in line to the throne. Because of that position, she could potentially serve as a Counsellor of State if required while Prince William’s heir remains under the age of 18.
Behind her in the line of succession are her daughters, Sienna and Athena.
Public scrutiny surrounding the family has intensified in recent years, largely due to the controversies linked to their parents. Prince Andrew’s association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, along with the misconduct allegations he has faced, has continued to draw criticism.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson, often known as Fergie, has also faced intense media attention over the years. Reports suggest that since the fallout from the Epstein scandal, she has largely kept a lower profile and spends much of her time with close friends rather than appearing in London’s high society circles.
Her public life has long been marked by controversy, dating back to the late 1990s when her relationship with American financial manager John Bryan became public and contributed to the breakdown of her marriage to Andrew.
