Princess Eugenie has announced she is pregnant with her third child, a development that royal experts say could be a 'make or break' moment for the York family amid the ongoing scandal surrounding her father, Prince Andrew. The princess, 34, shared the news on Monday with a photo of her two sons holding an ultrasound image.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the pregnancy in a statement: '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.'
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror that the baby news provides a welcome distraction from the Epstein scandal that has engulfed Eugenie's parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. 'Royal babies are always happy events — who doesn’t love the innocence of a new life, devoid of any scandal or controversy? So I think most rational people will be wishing Eugenie well — especially after the strains of the past year or so,' Bond said.
Bond noted that the crisis could either strengthen or break Eugenie's marriage to Jack Brooksbank. 'When a crisis like this happens, it can make or break a couple, and it looks very much as if Eugenie and Jack have been brought even closer together,' she said. The couple have weathered the storm together, focusing on their family unit despite the 'surrounding noise.'
Both Eugenie and her sister Beatrice have been named in the Epstein files, though no wrongdoing has been suggested. Bond believes the new baby will take precedence for Eugenie, who has stayed out of the spotlight. 'She has her man, her sons and a new life on the way — and they, I’m sure, are now the centre of her world,' Bond added.
