Princess Beatrice looked regal in an elegant floral dress from a Kate-approved brand as she visited a school in London today amid rumors that she and Princess Eugenie could be taking on a more prominent public role within the royal family.
The 35-year-old niece of the king, who does not work as a member of the royal family, met fifth-graders from St Mary’s and St John’s Primary School to talk about the importance of protecting your skin from sun damage and potential skin cancer later in life.
The visit is part of Beatrice’s role as patron of the British Skin Foundation, a position perhaps closer to her heart after her mother, Sarah Ferguson, was diagnosed with skin cancer just months after the Duchess of York underwent treatment for breast cancer.
Sarah, affectionately known as Fergie, had a mole removed in January after tests revealed it was malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.
Today, Beatrice looked typically stylish in a £295 floral midi dress from ME + EM. The brand has proven popular with royal ladies, with Zara Tindall, the Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle all seen wearing the company’s designs.
Princess Beatrice looked stylish in a floral dress by ME + EM during a school visit in North West London today
Beatrice seemed in her element as she accepted a brightly coloured bouquet of flowers from the students, before engaging them in conversation about the importance of UV protection.
Rumors swirled this summer about the princess, claiming she is “expected to take a more prominent public role for the royal family” now that the King and Kate are battling cancer.
A source told The Mail On Sunday in May: ‘Charles is acutely aware that his slimmed-down monarchy is becoming nothing short of skeletal. He is heavily reliant on Anne and the Edinburghs.
“He wants to bring in some new blood and he looks at Beatrice and Eugenie. He thinks they’ve grown into very sensible, beautiful women who he thinks could be a real asset. Charles listens to his audience.
‘They cried out for the royal glamour that was missing at a time when his slimmed-down monarchy desperately needed more volume.
“Beatrice in particular has been desperately waiting for her chance to shine. She was once shy and her style was a bit sloppy. But now she is 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 provide increased support to the King and her family members in the coming months.”
Beatrice attended Royal Ascot with other members of the royal family and supported her cousin Prince William at a garden party at Buckingham Palace, along with Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall.
The Royal Family met with pupils from St Mary’s and St John’s Primary Schools to discuss the importance of sunscreen and sun protection
The 35-year-old looked lively as she spoke to fifth-graders in the assembly about the important topic
Biographer and royal commentator Phil Dampier previously told MailOnline that Beatrice ‘would be prepared to take on some royal duties if asked’.
He said: ‘I get the impression that Beatrice and Eugenie are ramping up their charity work and are giving the King subtle hints that they would be prepared to take on royal duties if asked.
‘The King recently took over some 300 patronage activities from his mother and father, but that is a huge workload, especially as he is battling cancer.’
He added: ‘If it is done carefully with the approval of the palace, I think it can be arranged so that they [Beatrice and Eugenie] ‘serve a number of non-controversial roles in charities such as hospitals, schools and even the military’.
Beatrice, who reportedly has at least four sponsors 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 British charity, founded in 1996, raises money for research into all types of skin diseases, including skin cancer. According to its website, it has supported 400 research projects and awarded £17 million in funding.
For today’s outing, Beatrice opted for a floral dress by ME+EM. It’s not the first time the royal has worn the elegant dress, she previously wore it during a vacation in St Tropez last summer.
The 35-year-old, who is married to property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi, teamed the dress with a pair of classic yet practical black and nude pumps.
Princess Beatrice, patron of the British Skin Foundation, seemed amused when, as a child, she told her class about the dangers of not wearing sunscreen
Beatrice observed the work of fifth graders, who were busy creating sun safety posters to highlight the importance of protecting your skin from potential skin cancers later in life.
Beatrice, who animatedly discussed a selection of posters with students, had styled her chestnut locks straight for the occasion.
For the occasion, she opted for a casual makeup look, complemented with a touch of nude lipstick.
Princess Beatrice’s outing comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed this weekend that her mother Sarah – who 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 being diagnosed with breast cancer last summer and undergoing a mastectomy, only to be diagnosed with skin cancer six months later.
Although doctors have advised her not to use the term ‘cancer-free’, the outlook is positive and the Duchess is no longer undergoing treatment.
Now she has written a new children’s book, entitled ‘Flora and Ferns: Wonders in the Forest’, which will be published in October.
The Duchess told the Mail on Sunday: ‘I wrote Flora and Fern for my grandchildren and also for my step-grandson Wolfie. It’s a special little story that encourages children to enjoy and respect nature and use their imagination to play.
‘The names Flora and Fern were chosen to create more understanding for the importance of nature.’
She combined her roles as author and grandmother during the writing process, testing storylines on her four grandchildren: Princess Eugenie’s son August, three, and her youngest son Ernest, one, along with Princess Beatrice’s stepson Wolfie, eight, and her daughter Sienna, two.
A friend added: ‘Writing and being in nature are her two escapes. Both have helped her through the difficult times of the past year, when she has been faced with two cancer diagnoses.
“She tells all her stories to her grandchildren and she is determined to create a little library for them to enjoy.”
The Duchess, who divorced the Duke of York in 1996, was recently welcomed back into the royal family after bonding with King Charles over their cancer diagnosis.
This week she pulled out of her October headline appearance at an Australian literary festival to avoid disrupting the King and Queen’s state visits.
