Prince William invited his cousins to a Royal Family party “via WhatsApp”, royal sources have claimed.
Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie all accompanied their cousin, the Prince of Wales, to a Buckingham Palace garden party earlier this week.
Almost all 8,000 guests received their invitations through the post, on thick, cream cards with embossed letters.
However, according to sources in The Telegraph, the Prince of Wales sent his four cousins plus Mike Tindall a WhatsApp message to invite them to the garden party.
Prince William and Zara Tindall both pictured at the garden party
PA
Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie joined Prince William inside the Palace before stepping out under umbrellas to chat to the rain-soaked crowds.
Their arrival lifted what could have been a rather different occasion for the prince, who was hosting the garden party on behalf of King Charles and without Princess Kate.
Standing for God Save the King alone with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester behind him, the prince could have cut a lonely figure without the Princess of Wales, who is at home recovering from cancer.
However, William led the younger royals in a cheery walkabout through the gardens.
Beatrice and Eugenie attending the Buckingham Palace garden party
PA
Just as Queen Elizabeth II relied on cousins from her own generation, as well as loyal children and grandchildren to join her at public events, Prince William did the same with a great reaction from the public.
A source told The Telegraph: “The cousins are all very close and always have been.
“I think people liked seeing them being there together and supporting each other.”
Princess Eugenie wrote on Instagram afterwards: “Come rain or shine, I was delighted to support my family to meet some special individuals at the Buckingham Palace garden party who have gone above and beyond to support their local communities and the country.”
Zara wore a Laura Green maxi dress with flared sleeves and peach heelsPA
Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall are very close with Prince William
PA
The Prince of Wales is thought to be keen to extend similar invitations again, in the spirit of including the wider family.
Regarding the younger generation of royals, the source added: “They’re very willing to step up and do more at this current time, to help.
“They’re very fond of their cousin and their uncle, and they want to do everything they can to support them.
“And they believe in the institution they grew up in.”