King Charles III has reportedly issued a firm directive to his nieces, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as part of his continued efforts to modernize and slim down the British monarchy.

The King is said to have made it clear that both princesses must now finance their own lives without relying on royal privileges or taxpayer support.

A Shift Away from Subsidised Royal Benefits

According to royal author Robert Johnson, King Charles has instructed Beatrice and Eugenie to “stand on their own two feet and pay their own way.” This decision forms part of a broader review of Crown-funded housing and perks that have long been extended to non-working royals.

Johnson, whose upcoming book The Windsor Legacy explores the King’s reform agenda, revealed that the monarch’s “explicit instructions” came amid growing frustration about subsidised royal residences still occupied by extended family members.

Currently, Princess Beatrice resides at St James’s Palace, while Princess Eugenie maintains a cottage within Kensington Palace for her visits to London. Johnson said both have been living in “subsidised accommodation” paid for by the Crown, a privilege the King reportedly views as outdated.

“Indeed, several members of the extended Royal Family have continued to enjoy subsidised accommodation, with some allowing their apartments to be used by their children as London pads,” Johnson told The Mail.

A Tougher Approach to Royal Housing

A close friend of the monarch compared the situation to “a hotel, and not a very good one,” while another insider said bluntly: “The King isn’t running a housing association for distant relatives.”

Reports suggest that Charles, who turns 77 next week, is considering reclaiming several royal properties — including those used by Beatrice and Eugenie — and leasing them at full market rates to approved private tenants.