Princess Eugenie made a significant announcement on May 4, revealing to the world that she is expecting her third child. However, there are reports suggesting that she did not inform her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, about the news in person.
A source recently shared information with a news outlet, stating that Eugenie, 36, has been keeping her distance from the former Duke of York, 66, amid his ongoing controversies. It is said that Sarah Ferguson, Eugenie’s mother and Andrew’s ex-wife, was the one who informed him about the pregnancy.
The insider mentioned that it is unclear how Andrew might be feeling about the news. They told the Daily Mail, “It’s difficult to know how he will be feeling about it.” The source added that Andrew only showed 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 ceremony six months earlier.
Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, married at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in October 2018 — just months after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot at the same venue. The marketing executive, 40, and the York princess moved to Portugal in May 2022 after spending their early years of marriage in the United Kingdom.
According to the Daily Mail source, Eugenie only informed Buckingham Palace about her pregnancy after much persuasion from her cousin Zara Tindall. “The Palace became involved in issuing a formal proclamation only after Eugenie’s cousin Zara Tindall — one of the few to have been entrusted with the news — persuaded her to write to King Charles,” the insider added.
“They and Jack were quite surprised by the warmth of the Palace response,” the source continued, noting that the pair had feared a frostier reception from the monarch, 77.
The royal family released a statement regarding the joyous news earlier this month, saying: “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 memo also mentioned how the couple’s other children, August, 5, and Ernest, 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 continued.
Eugenie took to her Instagram the same day as the Palace’s announcement to share a cute photo of her sons holding a sonogram photo. “Baby Brooksbank due 2026! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👶🏻♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️,” she happily captioned the snapshot.
While Eugenie and her husband prepare for their new arrival, Andrew’s various scandals continue to plague him. In October 2025, Charles stripped him of his royal titles after he was accused of sexually assaulting the late Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, though he denied the accusations.
In February, Andrew was arrested for misconduct while in public office, as he was accused of relaying confidential information to pal and late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. He was also evicted from the Royal Lodge and forced to move to a smaller home on the Sandringham Estate earlier this year.
