Princess Beatrice is becoming ‘increasingly crucial’ to the The Firm amid cancer battles faced by King Charles and Kate Middleton, says royal commentator

which described the oldest daughter of Prince Andrew as the ‘unlikely leading lady’, Kate Mansey said that the 35-year-old is ‘expected to support the King and senior family members more often in the coming months’.Meanwhile, on Tuesday, she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace, hosted by her cousin Prince William.

Her Princess Eugenie and cousin Zara Tindall, 43 were also in attendance, alongside Zara’s husband Mike Tindall, 45.

The Times cites a palace source as saying: ‘It was very much that the Prince of Wales wanted to invite his cousins along because [he knew it would be fun to see all of the young royals there.’

Further unofficial appearances are likely to include Royal Ascot, which Beatrice is expected to attend with her uncle, the King.

Earlier this month, Beatrice made a rare appearance on live television, prompting some to speculate that she was ‘gently pushing for more official duties from King Charles’.

Beatrice, 35, popped up on ITV’s This Morning on May 7 to reveal that her mother Sarah Ferguson is ‘all clear’ of skin cancer following a ‘bumpy health scare last year’.