Royal ‘threesome’ photos raise awkward eyebrows

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are notoriously close — but many believe these recent photos prove they’re a little too close.

$147,000.

That is how much Princess Beatrice raised for charity when she auctioned off the monstrosity of a hat she wore to Wills and Kate’s wedding. Until this year that whopping, pretzel-esque Philip Treacy headpiece is the closest that Bea has come to creating any controversy.

— For more stories like this, go to whimn.com.au —

For years, decades in fact, she has been a model royal, choosing appropriate hem lengths, enjoying a scandal-free love life with a nice benign boy who wore nice benign button down shirts, and managing to leave a string of Mayfair nightclubs without ever once flashing her knickers accidentally to the paps. Kudos.

However, strange things can happen under the influence of champagne and ginormous floral arrangements such as what took place at her sister Princess Eugenie’s wedding last year where our hitherto single Bea met dashing property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. While Edo, as his mates call him, has apparently been close to the Yorks for years, it was at last October’s royal wedding where things started to heat up between them.

RELATED: How Meghan healed a deep Diana rift between Harry and Charles

RELATED: Everything you need to know about Meghan’s secret Hollywood friendships

RELATED: Princess Beatrice goes public with controversial boyfriend

Sarah, Duchess of York with Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor. Picture: Frank Augstein / POOL / AFP)

Things got a wee bit scandalous when news of their relationship broke and there were some lingering questions about whether Edo had still in fact been in a relationship with the mother of his son Wolfie, during the aforementioned romance-sodden big day.

Still, love was in the air! Since then, Edo and Bea have been photographed together both at home in London and overseas in New York and Bahrain, beaming widely with the sort of grin exclusively enjoyed by the thoroughly loved up (or those who have never known the relative ignominy of flying economy).

In the months since then, reports have been whizzing all about the place suggesting that it might be time for the Queen to dig out the key for the hitchin’ tiara vault, that is, Bea would soon follow her sister down the aisle.

In April, Edo confirmed in an interview with the (UK) Telegraph that he was living with Bea at St James’ palace and in May made his debut at an official royal event, popping on his best morning suit for Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding.

This photo of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie with Beatrice's partner is causing a stir. Picture: LDN PIX/Backgrid

Which brings us to last weekend, when a couple of very intriguing photos of Edo, Bea and Eugenie hit the web. The pics were taken as the very merry trio left a Notting Hill restaurant this week. The first shows Bea between Edo and her sister, holding both of their hands simultaneously. It is affectionate and heartwarming and makes perfect sense. The York girls clearly have an enviable Bond, posting about each other on Instagram with glee abandon and even sharing a recent Vogue profile.

It’s the second paparazzi shot that raised a few eyebrows in the smarter parts of London.

RELATED: Why Beatrice and Eugenie never wear tiaras

RELATED: Fergie slams ‘disgusting’ article about Eugenie

RELATED: Strict rules Meghan has to follow that Beatrice and Eugenie don’t

Beatrice, Eugenie and Eduordo. Image: LDN PIX/Backgrid

In it, Edo is holding hands with his girlfriend Bea — and with Eugenie.

It is worth keeping in mind that Bea is very close to Eugenie’s husband, tequila ambassador Jack Brooksbank, and back in her single days was a cheerful third wheel as the troika hit up London’s vast array of private members clubs, appropriate hem lengths and vaguely squiffy smiles all round.

But, they never all held hands (as far as I can tell from having wasted a significant amount of time on Google Images).

And thus we are left in this awkward place. To be clear, I’m not intimating there is anything sexual going on here but it is a very, shall we say, unusual way to walk down the street.

So, here’s to the next royal wedding and whichever particular way Bea may choose to walk down the aisle.

Daniela Elser is a freelance writer and contributor with over 10 years of royal expertise

This story originally appeared on whimn.com.au and is reproduced with permission