Princess Eugenie's Newborn Sparks Joy Amidst Royal Drama
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have announced the birth of their baby daughter in Portugal.The King's niece posted on Instagram: 'Jack and I are so excited to announce Baby Girl Brooksbank!! We are beyond in love with our girlie.'The announcement was accompanied by a photo of the newborn lying on a bed and was greeted with messages of goodwill from her many followers.Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank divide their time between a picturesque villa in Portugal and a cottage at Kensington Palace.The baby, who will not be an HRH, is born 15th in line to the throne, with her great-uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, moving down to 16th place. The daughter of disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson has yet to reveal the newborn's name.The Royal Family's official Instagram account warmly received the news in a heartfelt message posted just moments after the birth was announced. A statement read: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, born on Monday, 3rd August 2026, at 6.20pm, at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal.Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have announced the birth of their baby daughterPrincess Eugenie pictured with Mr Brooksbank. The pair announced they were expecting in May'The baby was born weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces.'Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family were delighted to be informed of the news.'Buckingham Palace officials previously revealed the couple's sons August, five, and Ernest, two, were 'very excited' to welcome a new member of the family.In a photo shared by Eugenie in May, Ernest, wearing a Chelsea football kit, and August, wearing a long-sleeved grey T-shirt, can be seen holding a picture of a baby scan. She will also be the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the third to be born since her death in 2022.The new arrival will be the fifth grandchild of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following the birth of Princess Beatrice's daughter Athena Mapelli Mozzi in January last year.The baby's grandfather Andrew - the King's brother - was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February amid the scandal surrounding his friendship with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Eugenie and Jack married at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in October 2018, and welcomed their first child, August, on February 9, 2021.His younger brother Ernest was born on May 30, 2023.In a photograph shared by Princess Eugenie in May, her sons, Ernest, wearing a Chelsea football kit, and August, wearing a long-sleeved grey T-shirt, can be seen holding a picture of a baby scanThe couple pictured with their first child, August, in 2021. They have yet to announce the name of the most recent addition to their familyEugenie is known to be a doting parent who has repeatedly spoken about the joys of motherhood.The couple, who split their time between a Portuguese villa and a Kensington Palace cottage, affectionately call their boys Augie and Ernie.Next to the announcement photo shared in May by Eugenie, a message read, 'Baby Brooksbank due 2026!' and was followed by a series of red heart emojis and one of a baby.A Buckingham Palace statement at the time said: '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.'August (aged five) and Ernest (aged two) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family.'His Majesty The King has been informed and is delighted with the news.'Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie in June staged their own surprise show of sisterly unity at their cousin Peter Phillips's 'intimate wedding' in the Cotswolds.It was their first public appearance together since their disgraced father was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.And while Andrew has been stripped of his title and all royal privileges, his daughters showed they were only too keen to maintain their own position in the Royal Family, days after a National Audit report revealed they have not paid a penny in rent for years.Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36, arrived separately at the venue in Kemble, Gloucestershire, and were dropped off at a house next to the All Saints Church, out of sight of the waiting press.Eugenie is known to be a doting parent who has repeatedly spoken about the joys of motherhood (Pictured: The Royal with Mr Brooksbank in 2022)King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured in July. They were said to be 'delighted' by the newsThey then teamed up for a coordinated public entrance together, flanked by their respective husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, in full view of the cameras.The move meant that the pair were far more visible as they were photographed during a long walk up from their drop-off spot instead of being deposited – like all the other royal guests – directly outside the church gate.The wedding was the first occasion where both Beatrice and Eugenie were seen with other members of the Royal Family since the Christmas Day service at Sandringham.Both missed the Easter celebrations and events to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth's centenary.