Palace Congratulating Eugenie's Third Pregnancy Is A 'Terrible Mistake' For The Monarchy, Says Royal Expert
The experts noted that this sends the wrong message to the public since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is still under investigation.
Princess Eugenie's place in the royal family has been uncertain ever since her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, lost his title. Amidst all that, the Princess announced her third pregnancy on May 4, 2026, via Instagram, stating, "Baby Brooksbank due 2026!" She shared a photo of her sons, August and Ernest, with an ultrasound image. The child is expected in the summer of 2026. Subsequently, Buckingham Palace also released a statement noting that King Charles was "delighted with the news." However, royal experts believe that this has sent out the wrong message since the York family is still riddled with scandal. Labeling it a 'terrible mistake', Daily Mail's diary editor, Richard Eden, stated that the York sisters must be dealt with at "an arm's length" till their father, disgraced, Andrew Mouthbatten-Windsor, is cleared of all his charges. "I have to say, I think this is a mistake," Eden said. "In the Palace putting out this announcement, it indicates the King supports Eugenie and her sister Beatrice and wants them to remain in the Royal fold in the future," he added while appearing on the Palace Confidential podcast alongside co-host Rebecca English.
Eden persisted in claiming that Sarah Ferguson has mostly evaded public life and that Andrew was detained on suspicion of wrongdoing in public office. The public is reminded of their parents by the prominence of the daughters in the family, which has led to arguments that the royal family should keep their distance from them for the sake of the monarchy's reputation. "It would be much better if the Royal Family kept them at arm's length, at least for some time," he noted. However, English pointed out that she wasn't surprised by the Palace's revelation, citing the King's earlier declaration that Andrew's daughters shouldn't be held accountable for their father's deeds. "The Palace has a big press machine. They can handle these kinds of announcements and the volume of inquiries that inevitably come in," English put forth.
The Duke of Edinburgh's place in the succession line will be impacted by the birth of Eugenie's third child, who will be 15th in line to the throne. Eden then highlighted this issue during the discussion. "Eugenie and her child are only in the line of succession because she is the daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor," he said. "I have argued this before, but I think he should be removed. He is still the Duke of York, a councillor of state who, in theory, could stand in for the monarch. It is a situation that brings the monarchy into disrepute. I would redraw the line of succession, removing Andrew and his daughters, and I would also include Prince Harry and his children," he stated.
Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor. Their relationship, which began in 2010, is characterized as "love at first sight." The couple maintains a low-profile lifestyle, dividing their time between the UK and Portugal, where Jack works for the Discovery Land Company.
