Prince William expects Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to assume more responsibilities during Kate’s absence, according to GB News’ Royal Correspondent.

Earlier this month, the prince hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace with his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie, in the absence of the King and Princess Kate.

Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also attended the rainy event.

In the second episode of GB News’ new royal podcast, “The Royal Record,” GB News’ Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker and Digital Royal Editor Svar Nanan-Sen discussed the likelihood of the prince’s cousins taking on additional duties.

Responding to Svar asking if he was happy to see the cousins supporting William, Cameron said: “Yeah, it was quite a nice surprise.

“Prince William does want to see his cousins take on a bit more of an informal role when it comes to engagements.”

William’s cousins are not working royals but they often attend Royal Family events.

There have been fewer royals undertaking public engagements as Princess Kate and the King receive treatment for cancer leading to a ‘slimmed down monarchy.’

However, Cameron said: “The idea of a slimmed-down monarchy might start to be a thing of the past.

“It is a case of Prince William taking after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and rallying around his cousins like Queen Elizabeth did and asking them to help out as and when, so watch this space.”

The late Queen Elizabeth relied on the supportive cousins of her own generation as well as her children and grandchildren to accompany her at royal events.

Cameron concluded: “I suspect we may see Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall and Peter Philips out and about and doing more engagements for the Royal Family in an informal capacity.

“But I must stress that does not mean becoming working royals.”

According to the Telegraph, the Prince of Wales would be interested in sending similar invitations to Royal Family events again to include the wider family.

Following the garden party, Princess Eugenie shared a message on social media about “supporting family.”