Princess Eugenie is expected to give birth to her third child within weeks, but the joyous occasion may be overshadowed by her parents' ongoing exile. Eugenie's mother, Sarah Ferguson, and father, Prince Andrew, have been stripped of their titles and remain out of the public eye following the Epstein scandal. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggests Fergie could be heartbroken if excluded from the new arrival's life.
Eugenie's Pregnancy Announcement
In May, Buckingham Palace announced that Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting their third child, due in summer 2026. The statement read: "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 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 palace shared a photo of Eugenie's two sons looking at an ultrasound print.
Parents in Exile
Eugenie's parents, Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, have faced severe repercussions from their association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In October 2025, they were stripped of their titles and evicted from Royal Lodge by King Charles. Andrew was arrested in February 2026 amid a police investigation. The couple has since remained in self-imposed exile, denying any wrongdoing. Rumors suggest Eugenie has distanced herself from them during the scandal.
Grandparental Joy or Heartbreak?
Jennie Bond commented on the situation: "Well, who wouldn't want to be involved in the birth and first few days in the life of a new grandchild? It's only natural that Fergie, and Andrew too, would want to meet the new arrival and give any support they can to Eugenie." She added, "Will it happen? Who knows! It's thought that Eugenie has distanced herself from her disgraced father, and possibly from her mother as well. But the truth is, we don't know what, if any, conversations or meetings they have had in recent times."
Fergie's Role as Grandmother
Fergie has been a doting grandmother to Eugenie and Beatrice's four children. Bond explained: "We do know that Fergie has been a doting grandmother in the past to her four little grandchildren, and I'm sure she would be heartbroken if she were excluded from this wonderful new episode in Eugenie and Jack's life." She noted that the decision lies with Eugenie, who lives primarily in Portugal. Bond expects the couple to release a photo of the baby but doubts Andrew or Sarah will be included. "The Epstein scandal has clouded all of their lives in one way or another. I think whatever relationship Eugenie now has with her parents, it will remain private and extremely discreet. And that's probably for the best all round," she concluded.
