Princess Eugenie, who is expecting her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank this summer, has spoken candidly about the parenting guilt she often experiences. In a revealing podcast appearance last year, the 36-year-old royal discussed the challenges of motherhood and how her mother, Sarah Ferguson, helped her navigate them.
Announcement of Third Child
Eugenie announced her pregnancy on Instagram, sharing a photo of her two sons, August (5) and Ernest (2), holding a baby scan. The caption read: "Baby Brooksbank 2026!" King Charles is said to be "delighted" by the news. The new baby will be 15th in line to the throne and will be the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Parenting Struggles Revealed
On the Lessons From Our Mothers podcast, Eugenie admitted to striving for perfection. "Trying to make the perfect world for your children when you don't hit the mark, feeling that guilt," she said. She highlighted the guilt of not being present all the time or losing her temper. "Little people are little people and we put a lot of old grown-up things onto them."
Eugenie described the nightly bath time routine as stressful, noting that her young son does not want to cooperate. She learned from her mother that it is okay to skip a bath or miss tooth brushing. "They are little people learning and they can't be perfect," she added.
Sarah Ferguson's Influence
Eugenie praised her mother for always being a kid at heart. "She always was the kid as well, and she'd much rather sit and talk to a bunch of kids than talk to grown-ups." Ferguson's advice helped Eugenie manage guilt: "Don't let that consume the days, because the days are so precious."
The new baby, due this summer, will not hold an HRH title but will be the fifth grandchild of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following Princess Beatrice's daughter born last January.
