Princess Beatrice appeared to take style inspiration from Kate Middleton during her outing at the First Abu Dhabi Bank launch on August 10.
Photos shared online show the Princess of York looking polished in a white blazer paired with a ME+EM dress — a label long associated with the Princess of Wales.
While her look won praise, many royal watchers criticized her presence at the event, calling it a poor choice given the swirl of financial allegations surrounding her parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
The Event and Its Timing
Beatrice attended the launch of the new London branch of the UAE’s largest bank. The event coincided awkwardly with media coverage of royal author Andrew Lownie’s new biography, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York.
Days earlier, excerpts revealed troubling claims, including a 2019 payment of nearly $950,000 sent by a Turkish fraudster to Andrew’s bank account, labeled as a “gift” for Beatrice’s wedding. Lownie’s book also spotlighted other alleged questionable financial schemes involving both Andrew and Ferguson.
Allegations Against Prince Andrew
According to the biography, after stepping down from royal duties in 2019, Prince Andrew allegedly sustained his “lavish” lifestyle through quiet, behind-the-scenes activities. In an excerpt published in the Daily Mail, Lownie claimed Andrew had helped secure millions — possibly billions — in business for British firms over the years.
The book further alleges that Andrew pursued business interests of his own, including selling his Sunninghill Park estate, gifted by the late Queen Elizabeth, to Kazakh tycoon Timur Kulibayev. He was also accused of acting “as a fixer” for a foreign consortium in Kazakhstan, earning roughly $5.1 million in commission.
Financial Controversies Around Sarah Ferguson
The Duchess of York also comes under fire in Lownie’s book. Reports from the Daily Beast state that Ferguson accumulated nearly $5 million in debt while indulging in an extravagant lifestyle, allegedly using her royal connections to dodge payments.
Lownie claims her spending led the late Queen to cut her off financially, even taking away her fuel card. Despite large outstanding loans, Ferguson allegedly carried on with expensive habits, running up charges at Harrods and walking out of five-star New York hotels while leaving the Palace to cover the costs.
Beatrice and Kate’s Bond
Amid these controversies, Beatrice’s subtle nod to Middleton’s fashion sense highlighted the warm relationship the Princess of York shares with the Princess of Wales. Despite Middleton’s reported dislike of Andrew, insiders say her bond with Beatrice remains positive.
A source told Life & Style, “The sisters [Beatrice and Eugenie] really do look up to Kate. They admire her easy-going but firm mothering style — how she handles situations gracefully, even in tough moments.” The two royals have often been seen chatting and smiling together at major family gatherings.