Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have made a positive impression on locals in their new Portuguese village, with one resident praising their friendly gestures and efforts to speak the local language.
Friendly gestures and language efforts
A councillor who lives close to the royal couple told the Daily Mail that he regularly sees them in the area, including when they are out walking or travelling in their Range Rover. "I see Eugenie and Jack quite often. We live very close and I knew she was pregnant as I saw her bump. I would often see them in their Range Rover as well," he said.
According to the resident, it is the couple's friendly nature rather than their wealth or royal connections that has made an impression. "They are very friendly and always wave to say hello and they both also speak a little bit of Portuguese, which has really impressed everyone in the village," the councillor said.
Privacy respected by locals
The councillor added that the couple go for walks on the main street and visit restaurants without being bothered. "It's mainly locals here and not many foreigners, so no one really knows who she is - but of course the people in Melides know but we don't bother her. We leave her alone to get on with her life."
Eugenie's connection with Portugal has become more significant following the arrival of her third child. The princess and Jack welcomed a baby girl on Monday, August 3, at a hospital in Lisbon.
New baby and local reaction
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the baby arrived at 6.20pm weighing 6lb 9oz, with both mother and daughter said to be doing well. The newborn is believed to be the first of Eugenie's children to have been born outside the UK.
The news was met with excitement locally, with one councillor saying: "I heard on the radio their new baby was born in Lisbon, so she is Portuguese by birth, which is wonderful for us here. Everyone is delighted for them."
Life at Costa Terra resort
Eugenie and Jack are understood to own a £3.6million villa at the exclusive Costa Terra resort, where properties sit among pine trees and sand dunes. The development includes a mile-long beach, restaurants, a wellness spa, an equestrian centre and an 18-hole golf course.
Melides has also become a destination for high-profile names, with fashion designer Christian Louboutin's five-star Vermelho hotel located nearby. Rooms there can reportedly cost as much as £919 a night during the high season.
Jose Santos, president of the local tourist board, said having members of the Royal Family living in the area had been a major positive. "For us to have Harry and Meghan and Eugenie and her family as guests and residents is such a fantastic advert for the area," he said. The area's privacy is thought to be another attraction for wealthy residents, with Santos adding: "Costa Terra where they live is very exclusive and the security is very tight."
Sarah Ferguson is also believed to have returned to Melides following the birth of her daughter's baby. Eugenie and Jack are familiar faces at local businesses, with staff at O Fadista restaurant confirming that the couple have visited on several occasions. One waiter said: "Eugenie and her husband are regulars and have been here quite a few times with friends."
