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King Charles's Niece, Princess Eugenie, Just Had Her Second Child

king charles iii celebrates first christmas as monarch with royal family
7 Things to Know About Princess EugenieSamir Hussein - Getty Images

Prior to the fall of 2018, when she said “I do” in a highly-publicized royal wedding, Princess Eugenie was relatively unknown on this side of the Atlantic—save, perhaps, for her much-discussed outfit at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials, several years before. Since then, Eugenie has become an increasingly recognizable figure on both sides of the pond.

Today, she and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, revealed the exciting news that they welcomed their second child at the end of May.

Here’s what you should know about the princess.

She is eleventh in line for the throne.

Princess Margaret, the Duchess Of York, Prince Andrew, and the Queen attend the christening of Princess Eugenie, center.
Princess Margaret, the Duchess Of York, Prince Andrew, and the Queen attend the christening of Princess Eugenie, center.Getty Images

Princess Eugenie, the third of the Queen’s four granddaughters, was born on March 23, 1990. Her full name is Eugenie Victoria Helena, and until she married Jack Brooksbank, her title was styled as Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York. (It’s pronounced “Yoo-jenny,” by the way.) These days, she goes by HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank.

Eugenie is currently eleventh in line for the throne. Her older sister, Princess Beatrice, is ninth in line, and Beatrice's daughter Sienna, is tenth—though none of them is expected to ever reign.

Her parents are Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York leave the Portland Hospital with the newborn Princess Eugenie.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York leave the Portland Hospital with the newborn Princess Eugenie.Getty Images

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is the third child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. He married Sarah Ferguson, commonly referred to as “Fergie,” on July 23, 1986. After having their two daughters, Eugenie and Beatrice, the couple would eventually separate in 1992 and officially divorce in 1996. Although their marriage rocked the tabloids, the two have remained close.

She married Jack Brooksbank in 2018.

Princess Eugenie Of York Marries Mr. Jack Brooksbank
The couple married in 2018.WPA Pool - Getty Images

Before their royal wedding at St. George’s Chapel, the couple had been together for some time. Eugenie met her future husband during a ski trip in 2010, when Princess Eugenie was 20 and Brooksbank was 24, according to the BBC. They soon began dating, and Brooksbank attended his first Royal Ascot alongside Eugenie in the summer of 2011.

The duo continued dating into the beginning of 2018—even making it work long-distance for a while, when Eugenie lived in New York—when they took the next step. Brooksbank popped the question during a trip to Nicaragua that January. “I was over the moon,” said Eugenie of the experience.

They said “I do” on October 12, 2018, in the same venue that Eugenie’s cousin, Prince Harry, married Meghan Markle a few months prior. Eugenie wore a stunning gown designed by Peter Pilotto for her wedding to Brooksbank. Beatrice, her maid of honor, read a passage from The Great Gatsby that reminded Eugenie of Jack.

Brooksbank is the son of an accountant and grew up in British aristocratic circles. He did not attend college, though, and instead worked in the restaurant and bar industry, managing hotspots like the posh nightclub Mahiki. Later, he became a brand representative for the George Clooney-founded Casamigos Tequila. Now, the couple is reportedly splitting their time between London and Portugal, in deference to Brooksbank's new job with Discovery Land Company, a development corporation owned by Mike Meldman.

She gave birth to her first child in 2021.

Back in September 2020, she confirmed the happy news that she was expecting with an Instagram post.

"Jack and I are so excited for early 2021....👶🏻" she wrote.

She gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, on February 9, 2021.

In January 2023, she and Jack announced that they were expecting their second child and on May 30th, the couple welcomed their new son, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank. While he arrived at the end of May, Eugenie didn't actually reveal the birth until June 6, when she shared an Instagram post with little Ernest's first public photo.

She was famously close with Queen Elizabeth II

Though she's not a working royal, Eugenie often accompanied her grandmother to public functions and was often seen at the late queens side for events like Easter Day church service in Windsor, the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and the Royal Ascot races. While her cousins Prince William and Prince Harry would often refer to the monarch publicly as "the Queen," Eugenie regularly referred to her simply as "Grannie."

During the mourning period following the death of Eugenie's beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Eugenie traveled to London with her family for a service at the Palace of Westminster where the Queen lied in state ahead of her funeral. She looked quite emotional during the ceremony.

princess eugenie
CHRISTOPHER FURLONG - Getty Images

She joined the Queen's seven other grandchildren, including her sister Beatrice, in standing vigil at the Queen's coffin. Together, she and Beatrice penned a sweet tribute to Her Majesty, writing, "We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all." They added, "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."

Her personal struggles became her charitable cause.

Princess Eugenie opens the new Children's High Dependency Unit at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Getty Images

When she was 12, Princess Eugenie underwent back surgery to correct her scoliosis, and to this day has metal rods in her back. Ever since then, she has endeavored to support others with similar conditions. As Patron of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, she has taken part in several charity campaigns. She also shares her personal experiences with scoliosis, whether that means posting her x-rays on Instagram, or having her wedding dress designed to showcase her scar.

She’s also involved in anti-slavery work, and cofounded the Anti-Slavery Collective, an organization that works to highlight “modern slavery as a global epidemic.”

Her other patronages include the Coronet Theater, Charity:water, and the Tate Young Patrons, among others. She also serves as Patron of the Elephant Family, where she works alongside her mother, and the Teenage Cancer Trust, where she works with her sister.

She has a full-time gig in the art world.

Princess Eugenie of York attends the Warrior Games Exhibition VIP preview party at The Halcyon Gallery in 2017.
Princess Eugenie of York attends the Warrior Games Exhibition VIP preview party at The Halcyon Gallery in 2017.Getty Images

Eugenie graduated from Newcastle University in 2013 with degrees in art history and English literature. She spent two years living in New York and working as a specialist at Paddle8, an online auction house, according to Harper’s Bazaar. These days, she works in London as a director of Hauser & Wirth, a contemporary art gallery. “I’ve loved art since I was very little,” she told Bazaar. “I knew I definitely wouldn’t be a painter, but I knew this was the industry for me. I love being able to share my passion for art with people.”

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