Prince Harry and Meghan Markle once had an extremely close bond with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
However, following several public spats between the Sussexes and other members of the Royal Family, and the fact that Harry and Meghan have been unable to visit England for private visits due to security concerns, the younger royals have drifted apart.
“Beatrice and Eugenie have firmly pledged their allegiance to the Royal Family,” the source said.
“They haven’t communicated with the Sussexes for quite a while now.
“They are nowhere near as close as they once were.”
The source claims that the row extends from the princesses’ mother Sarah Ferguson appearing to distance herself from Meghan Markle in an interview last year, saying she ‘hasn’t really met’ Meghan – after the Sussexes claimed it was Fergie who ‘taught her to curtsey’ to the late Queen.
The Duchess of York, 64, told The Telegraph she ‘doesn’t know’ Meghan and that they were not really that close.
Fergie said: ‘I don’t really know Meghan. I haven’t really met her.’
However, the source claims that this might be a tale the Duchess has told to distance herself from Markle.
“They were neighbours,” the source said. “Royal Lodge is basically next door to Frogmore and the Yorks and Sussexes met quite often.
“Sarah taught Meghan how to curtsey and there have been other meetings.”
“Both Harry and Meghan were quite surprised by Sarah’s comments and couldn’t understand why she would distance herself like that. It has caused a bit of distance between the families.”
“Eugenie and Jack are very careful about what they say to friends because they don’t want to be seen as bad-mouthing Harry or Meghan,” the source said.
“There’s still a friendship there but it’s not like the close family bond they had before Harry moved to America.”