Princess Beatrice looked every inch a royal on duty in an elegant floral frock from a Kate-approved brand as she visited a school in London today – amid rumours she and Princess Eugenie could play a more prominent public role in the Royal Family.
The King’s niece, 35, who is a non-working royal, met year five pupils at St Mary’s and St John’s primary school to discuss the importance of protecting skin from sun damage and potential skin cancers later in life.
The visit is part of Beatrice’s role as the patron of the British Skin Foundation, a position now perhaps closer to her heart following her mother, Sarah Ferguson’s, skin cancer diagnosis just months after the Duchess of York was treated for breast cancer.
Sarah, affectionately known as Fergie, 64, had a mole removed from her body, which tests found to be a malignant melanoma in January – the most serious type of skin cancer.
Today, Beatrice looked typically stylish in a £295 floral midi dress from ME + EM. The brand has proven to be popular amongst royal ladies, with Zara Tindall, the Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle having sported the firm’s designs.
Princess Beatrice looked stylish in a floral dress from ME + EM during a school visit in northwest London today
Beatrice looked to be in her element as she accepted a bright bouquet of flowers from pupils, before chatting to them in an assembly about the importance of UV protection.
Rumours have surrounded the princess this summer, claiming she is ‘expected to play a more prominent public role for the Royal Family’ amid the King and Kate’s cancer diagnoses.
One source reportedly told The Mail On Sunday in May: ‘Charles is very aware that his slimmed-down monarchy is getting positively skeletal. He is heavily reliant on Anne and the Edinburghs.
‘He is looking to bring in some fresh blood and he’s looking to Beatrice and Eugenie. He thinks that they’ve grown into very sensible, lovely women who he thinks could be a real asset. Charles is listening to his public.
‘They have been crying out for that royal glamour that has been missing during a time when his slimmed-down monarchy is in desperate need of bulking up.
‘Beatrice in particular has been desperate for her chance to shine. She was once shy and her style was a little frumpy. But these days she’s ambitious, confident and fashionable. She looks great in photos.’
Meanwhile, royal commentator Kate Mansey wrote in the Times that same month that Beatrice is ‘expected to support the King and senior family members more often in the coming months’.
Beatrice attended Royal Ascot with other members of the Royal Family, and also supported her cousin Prince William at a Buckingham Palace garden party, alongside Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall.
The royal met pupils at St Mary’s and St John’s primary school to discuss the importance of sunscreen and sun safety
The 35-year-old looked animated as she chatted to year five pupils in assembly about the important topic
Biographer and royal commentator Phil Dampier previously told MailOnline that Beatrice ‘would be willing to take on some royal duties if asked’.
He said: ‘I get the impression Beatrice and Eugenie are stepping up their charity work, and dropping subtle hints to the King that they would be willing to take on some royal duties if asked.
‘The King recently took over some 300 patronages from his mother and father, but it’s a big workload, especially as he’s battling cancer’.
He added: ‘Done carefully with Palace approval, I think it could be arranged so that they [Beatrice and Eugenie] take on some non-controversial roles with worthy causes like hospitals, schools and even the military’.
Beatrice – who is thought to have at least four patronages, including Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, York Musical Society and Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity – became patron of the British Skin Foundation in 2023.
The UK charity – founded in 1996 – raises funds for research into all types of skin diseases, including skin cancer. It has supported 400 research projects and awarded £17,000,000 in funding, according to its website.
For today’s outing, Beatrice opted for a floral dress from ME+EM. It’s not the first time the royal has donned the elegant frock, having previously worn it while on holiday in St Tropez last summer.
The 35-year-old, who is married to property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi, matched the dress with a classic yet practical pair of black and nude pumps.
Princess Beatrice, patron of the British Skin Foundation, appeared entertained as as a child informed his class of the dangers of not wearing sun cream
Beatrice observed the work of year five pupils, who had been busy creating sun safety posters to highlight the importance of protecting your skin from potential skin cancers in later life
Beatrice, who appeared animated while chatting through a selection of posters with students, styled her auburn tresses straight for the occasion.
She opted for a casual makeup look for the occasion, complete with a touch of nude lipstick.
Princess Beatrice’s outing comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed this weekend that her mother Sarah – who has used writing as ‘an escape’ after two cancer diagnoses – has dedicated her new book to her four grandchildren.
She is now looking to the future after she was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer and underwent a mastectomy. Six months later, she was found to have skin cancer.
Although doctors have advised that she should not use the phrase ‘cancer-free’, the outlook is positive and the Duchess is no longer undergoing treatment.
Now she has written a new children’s book, titled ‘Flora and Fern: Wonder in the Woods’, due to be published in October.
The Duchess told the Mail on Sunday: ‘I wrote Flora and Fern for my grandchildren and also my step grandson Wolfie. It is a special little story encouraging children to enjoy and respect nature and use their imagination to play.
‘The names Flora and Fern are chosen to encourage more understanding of how important nature is.’
She combined her roles as author and grandmother in the writing process, testing out storylines on her four grandchildren: Princess Eugenie’s son August, three, and younger son Ernest, one, along with Princess Beatrice’s stepson Wolfie, eight, and daughter Sienna, two.
A friend added: ‘Writing and being in nature are her twin escapes. Both have helped her through the difficult times of the last year as she’s had to deal with two cancer diagnoses.
‘She tries all her stories out on her grandchildren and she’s determined to create a little library for them to enjoy.’
The Duchess, who divorced the Duke of York in 1996, has recently been welcomed back into the Royal fold after bonding with King Charles over their cancer diagnoses.
This week she pulled out of headlining an Australian literary festival in October so as not to ‘distract or detract’ from the King and Queen’s state visit.
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