Princess Eugenie‘s third baby will bring plenty of joy when he or she arrives this summer. But things will also be dramatically different from the royal landscape her first two children were born into.
The months leading up to Eugenie’s May 4 announcement that she and husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting another child have been filled with scandal, public embarrassment and a dramatic fall from grace for the princess’ parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
According to HELLO!‘s royal editor, Emily Nash, the newest Baby Brooksbank will enter a changed family world as the former Duke and Duchess of York continue to face fallout from their ties to predator Jeffrey Epstein.
“This baby will be born into very different family dynamics to those experienced by his or her older siblings,” Nash said, referring to big brothers August and Ernest.
“While their grandmother and grandfather have spent plenty of time with August and Ernest, they are likely to keep more of a distance this time around, although I’m sure Sarah will find it very hard to stay away from a new grandchild.”
Nash added that Eugenie’s pregnancy offers a rare bright spot for the family after a brutal stretch.
“Regardless of all that has gone on with her parents, this is wonderful news for Princess Eugenie and will give the whole royal family something positive to focus on after a tough few months. It’s something joyful and hopeful in the middle of what has been a very grim chapter in the York family’s history,” Nash added.
A complicated family moment
Eugenie publicly announced the happy news on Instagram on May 4 with a post featuring a photograph of her sons holding an ultrasound image.
The royal family’s official X account later shared the photo along with a message reading, “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr. Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their third child together, due this summer.” The post continued, “August (aged 5) and Ernest (aged 2) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family” and further noted that King Charles III “has been informed and is delighted with the news.”
Royal watchers, however, noted that the palace’s official post failed to mention Eugenie’s parents.
Despite the tension plaguing the York branch of the family, Charles’ public reaction to Eugenie’s baby news suggests there’s room for continued goodwill between the monarch and his brother’s daughters.
“The king’s warm words show that he still has a great deal of affection for Eugenie and that he has not ostracized his nieces. We might well start seeing them at family gatherings again,” Nash speculated.
At a distance
Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in 2018. Their sons arrived in 2021 and 2023. Their third child is due this summer. By: Ian Jones / Allpix / MEGA
The announcement may have been joyful, but the way the news allegedly reached the former Duke of York reveals just how tense things have become.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Eugenie left it to her mother to inform her father about her pregnancy.
“Andrew found out that he was to be a grandpa again via Sarah,” a source said.
The outlet further claimed that Eugenie has not been in touch with the former Prince Andrew since the king stripped him of his royal titles and honors and pushed him out of Royal Lodge in Windsor, England, earlier this year.
A royals source told the outlet that “it’s difficult to know how he will be feeling about it,” adding that Mountbatten-Windsor “was never a hands-on father, was away a lot and took little interest in [his daughters’] private lives. He only took a real interest in Eugenie’s wedding when he wanted to take center stage, demanding it be as grand as [Prince] Harry and Meghan [Markle]‘s six months earlier.”