The Royal Family broke tradition by leaving out a major detail in Princess Eugenie’s pregnancy announcement, amid the ongoing fallout from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced Eugenie, 36, is expecting her third child with her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
The couple are already parents to sons August, five, and Ernest, two.
However, unlike Eugenie’s previous pregnancy announcements, the Palace did not mention the couple’s families.
“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 statement began.
“August (aged 5) and Ernest (aged 2) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family.
“His Majesty The King has been informed and is delighted with the news.”
The statement accompanied a photograph of August and Ernest holding a picture of a baby scan.
Past pregnancy announcements have always acknowledged Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, as well as Brooksbank’s parents, by mentioning that the wider family is “delighted”.
In September 2020, the Palace said about her first pregnancy: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021.
“The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted with the news.”
Similarly, for Eugenie’s second pregnancy announcement in January 2023, a spokesperson said: “Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are pleased to announce they are expecting their second child this summer.
“The family are delighted and August is very much looking forward to being a big brother.”
The omission was likely intentional following Andrew and Fergie’s dramatic fall from grace.
The disgraced ex-prince and his ex-wife, both 66, were stripped of their royal titles and kicked out of Royal Lodge last year due to revelations about their dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.
On February 19, Andrew’s birthday, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing confidential information with Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy.
He remains under investigation, but has always denied the allegations against him.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who were also mentioned in the Epstein files, have not been accused of wrongdoing and have retained their royal titles.
Princess Eugenie’s new arrival will not have a royal title or HRH status, but will be 15th in line to the throne.
Despite losing his royal titles, Andrew remains eighth in the line of succession.