Princess Eugenie Chooses Portugal Over London — and She’s Already Winning Over the Locals
Eugenie and Jack seem to have found a quieter routine in Portugal, where she can enjoy family life without the usual royal attention.
Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, recently welcomed a baby daughter—their third child together. Unlike their first two children, who were born in London, their third child was welcomed in Portugal. And according to a few reports, Eugenie’s life away from Windsor Castle is quite different than usual.
Portugal has gradually become home for Eugenie and Brooksbank since they began spending more time there in 2022. Brooksbanl's work brought the couple to the Algarve, where they now live with their two sons, August and Ernest. Although they still maintain their London residence, their £3.6 million ($4.8 million) villa has seemingly become where the family primary home.
As per a report by the Daily Mail, both Eugenie and Brooksbank are very popular among the locals, who have taken a real liking to them. They are regulars at O Fadista, a seafood restaurant close to their home, and Sarah Ferguson has joined them there several times. While staff at the restaurant say they have yet to spot Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Fergie is believed to be staying with the family in Comporta to help out after the arrival of their baby.
Local tourist board president Jose Santos also spoke positively about the couple, calling their presence a “fantastic advert” for the area, which had been a “closely-guarded secret” until now. He added that locals are “very discreet” and generally leave the family alone. Santos also welcomed the baby’s arrival in Portugal, saying it was “great news” and that she can embrace being Portuguese as much as she wants.
Life in Portugal appears to be fairly private for the royal couple. Their home has “tight” security, with access largely restricted to neighbors and invited guests. Outside of that, their daily routine is pretty low-key, from driving around in their Range Rover to dining at local restaurants and going for quiet walks. The couple’s newborn daughter is also Portuguese by birth, something that has reportedly “delighted” the locals in the area.
Eugenie has also been open about how much she enjoys life in Portugal. During an appearance on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, she explained why she and her husband wanted to escape the fast pace of London and start a quieter life elsewhere. She said, “Portugal is the dream because I can go to the supermarket in my exercise gear and my hair piled on my head and not mind. Not care. No one cares.”
