Eugenie and Beatrice’s Unique Takes on Princess Style

Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York, daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, have always been in the spotlight. Although they are not as high profile as their cousins Prince William or Prince Harry, they still play significant roles in the royal family. Beatrice, the elder sister, is ninth in line for the throne, while Eugenie is in the 11th spot. Beatrice once told British Vogue, “We are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and we’re also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye.”

The public eye has sometimes been unkind to the princesses, particularly when it comes to their fashion choices. Despite occasional fashion missteps, they are making names for themselves as public figures and fashion icons. Through it all, they have each other for support. As Eugenie told British Vogue, “We’re the only person in each other’s lives who knows exactly what the other one is going through.”

Though often mentioned together, Beatrice and Eugenie are unique individuals with distinct interests and sartorial instincts. From headpieces to footwear, they exhibit different fashion preferences.

If you follow the royals, you’ve likely noticed that royal women often wear hats for special events. This tradition can be traced back to the 1950s. Hilary Alexander, fashion director at the Daily Telegraph, remarked, “When it comes to a special occasion in British society, the special occasion is not complete without a hat.”

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice embrace this tradition wholeheartedly, donning various headpieces. While some have celebrated their fun flair, others have faced public backlash, such as the extravagant hats they wore to Princess Catherine and Prince William’s wedding.

Despite their shared love for bold headpieces, their hat preferences differ. Eugenie often opts for classic hats with full brims, whereas Beatrice is more inclined towards fascinators. Nevertheless, they are not opposed to experimenting with other styles.

When it came to wedding day style, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie chose completely different gowns, yet both were stunning. Beatrice opted for a family heirloom, borrowing a vintage gown from her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The dress, designed by Sir Norman Hartnell, featured silver detailing, puffy cap sleeves, and a full skirt, making it fit for a princess.

In contrast, Eugenie chose a new gown designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. Her crisp white dress featured a unique bodice with folded-down sleeves forming a V-neck. The long train was perfect for the grand wedding, much larger than Beatrice’s more intimate ceremony. Eugenie’s choice of headpiece—a tiara on loan from her grandmother—added a touch of tradition to her modern gown.

When they were young, Beatrice and Eugenie often wore identical outfits, but now they each have their own styles. At the 2024 Royal Ascot, although both wore light pink dresses and hats, their outfits differed significantly. Beatrice chose an elegant floral midi dress by Zimmerman with full-length puff sleeves and a bedazzled sash. She completed her look with a pink floral fascinator.

In contrast, Eugenie opted for a more straightforward short-sleeved midi dress with a simple collar and button-down bodice. The textured ribbed fabric added interest without extra embellishments. She finished her look with a matching pink hat and tassel, showing that even with similar starting points, their styles diverge.

Princess Beatrice loves bold prints. Whether polka dots, plaid, or floral, she enjoys elaborate and colorful designs. One clear example was seen at Vogue World: London 2023, where she wore a black gown covered in blue and yellow floral patterns next to Eugenie’s simple teal satin gown.

At the 2024 Royal Ascot, Beatrice exhibited her affinity for floral prints once more, wearing a pink floral dress early in the week and a green floral design by Emilia Wickstead later on. Eugenie, on the other hand, often gravitates towards simpler, plain-colored outfits.

While Princess Beatrice enjoys bold patterns, Princess Eugenie often dazzles in chic, comfortable, and understated styles. At a recent panel on sustainable fashion, Eugenie turned heads in a gray knit dress by Gabriela Hearst, which perfectly balanced timeless and modern elements. The simplicity of the knit, collared dress allowed her to appear both polished and casual.

She completed the outfit with suede brown pumps and small hoop earrings, keeping her makeup and hair subdued. Eugenie’s subtle style choices often make a strong fashion statement.

Princess Beatrice has made a statement with patterned fabric, gravitating towards polka dots in recent years. Her love of polka dots reflects a current trend, with many celebrities also embracing the pattern. She typically sticks to a neutral color palette, such as black and white dresses, like her white maternity dress with black dots worn at Wimbledon in 2021 and a black dress with large white polka dots at the Royal Ascot.

Polka dots have an enduring charm, and Beatrice’s playful aesthetic is a fresh change from the usual formal attire seen at royal events. Her dotted frocks make a statement while remaining youthful and energized.

While Princess Beatrice experiments with prints, Princess Eugenie has undergone her own style transformation, embracing simple elegance. She looked particularly refined in an olive green dress at a 2024 wedding. The silky pleated skirt and fitted bodice were perfect for the occasion. Eugenie accessorized with a gold clutch, delicate jewelry, and a netted hat.

Another example of her understated glamour was a high-neck gown with silver jewelry and sparkling heels on a red carpet. These sophisticated moments recall Old Hollywood starlets, with Eugenie’s wedding dress partially inspired by Grace Kelly.

Princess Beatrice has a knack for making statements with her footwear. She often adds a pop of color with her heels, like the stunning blue shoes she paired with a white dress at the Victoria and Albert Museum Summer Party in 2018 or the strappy lavender heels at the 2014 Serpentine Gallery Summer Party.

Eugenie also has lovely shoes but prefers neutrals or matches them to her outfit. Unlike Beatrice, she isn’t too fond of wearing high heels all day, admitting they become painful by the end of the day.

Both princesses generally adhere to the royal dress code, but if one of them is going to push the envelope, it’s more likely to be Eugenie. She has worn outfits that show more skin than typical royal attire, such as a flouncy dress in 2009 and a long black gown with a high slit at a 2024 wedding.

For instance, Princess Eugenie wore a light blue dress with short sleeves at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, while Beatrice chose a more modest, long-sleeve dress that came down to her mid-calf. Eugenie’s outfits, while not scandalous by ordinary fashion standards, can be considered a bit risqué for royal norms.