Despite Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s parents divorcing, this did not stop Queen Elizabeth II from having a loving relationship with her granddaughters and she would frequently spend time with them, as well as their mother, Sarah Ferguson. This fondness was clearly illustrated following the breakdown of the York’s marriage as the late monarch bought Sarah, Beatrice and Eugenie a very generous gift.
After The Duke and Duchess of York’s divorce was finalised in 1996, the monarch bought her two granddaughters, who were then aged seven and nine, a lavish seven-bedroom Surrey mansion known as Birch Hall for them to live in with their mother and to use when they grew up. It was a supportive gesture by the late monarch but Eugenie has never been able to use the home, as the family were unable to keep up with the huge maintenance costs, meaning that the home stayed empty for two years until it was sold for £1.5 million in 1999.
Following their beloved grandmother’s death on September 8, 2022, the York sisters paid tribute to the Queen by issuing a statement.
They wrote: “Our dearest Grannie, we’ve not been able to put much into words since you left us all. There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.
“We, like many, thought you’d be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.
“For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy. You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world.
“The world mourns you and the tributes would really make you smile. They are all too true of the remarkable leader you are. We’re so happy you’re back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we’re so very proud of you.”
On the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death on September 8, 2023, Eugenie posted a photo on her Instagram of her sitting on a bench with her grandmother.
She captioned the post: “Thinking of you today. Missing you so much but remembering what a life of service, love and dedication to everyone and to your family, who loved you so very much.
“Forever grateful to you. And always in my heart.”