Nothing brings warring families back together quite like a new baby – that’s what Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice are counting on to help them engineer their return to royal life. As soon as Eugenie, 36, and her husband Jack Brooksbank, 40, announced they were welcoming their third child last week, it appeared to instantly thaw the relationship between the York sisters and the King.
Eugenie shared a sweet Instagram shot of her sons August, five, and Ernest, two, holding a picture of her baby scan, captioning it, “Baby Brooksbank due 2026!” with a string of heart emojis.
Hot on the heels of that post came an official palace statement describing Charles, 76, as “delighted with the news”. The child will be 15th in line to the throne. Although Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie stayed away from the traditional family gathering at Windsor on Easter Sunday and will not attend the Royal Ascot races next month in the wake of their parents’ disgrace, insiders say the baby news is paving the way for their royal return.
“The fact that Buckingham Palace announced her pregnancy and even the King congratulated her is a huge deal,” spills one well-placed source.
“She and Beatrice are doing everything they can to secure their positions with the royals after their father was stripped of his titles.”
Distance from the Duke of York
It’s believed Eugenie has actively distanced herself from her dad, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, who is living in exile on the Sandringham estate, and mum Sarah Ferguson, 66, last seen at a luxury resort in Austria.
Our insider adds, “In the back of their minds is preserving some kind of future for their children, who are still in the line of succession. And if that means that her future child can’t be seen in public with her mum or dad, then that might be the sad truth of their future.”
Marriages under strain
The happy news is also helping to smooth the waters of Beatrice and Eugenie’s troubled marriages, which have reportedly been on the rocks since Andrew’s shock arrest. While Eugenie and Jack appear to have mended their union, sources say Beatrice’s six-year marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, remains fractured, which is why she hopes to follow in her sister’s footsteps by falling pregnant with a “band-aid baby” to rescue their relationship.
“Beatrice is desperate for another baby with Edo,” says our insider.
“She knows he’s distanced himself from her entire family, but seeing how happy Eugenie and Jack are has only encouraged her desire for a third child.”
A rare sister sighting
This topic was no doubt on the agenda when Eugenie, sporting a distinct baby bump, and Beatrice were spotted enjoying lunch in London recently – the first time the sisters had been seen together in the UK since November.
However, not everyone in the royal household is as enthusiastic about the news as the King, with the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly deeply concerned about the York sisters’ possible re-entry into public life.
A firm stance from the future king
“In William’s view, it’s crucial to the future of the monarchy that they’re seen to be taking a very hard stance on the Yorks, and letting Beatrice and Eugenie continue to be associated with them publicly sends the wrong message,” says a palace insider.
“Kate is backing William. She agrees a clear line needs to be drawn and that continuing to have the sisters show up at key royal events muddies that message. As far as she’s concerned, it’s not about being unkind – it’s about protecting the institution and making sure the public sees consistency in how things are handled.”
Concerns over Fergie’s return
William, 43, and Kate, 44, reportedly fear allowing Beatrice and Eugenie back into the fold will simply encourage their mum Sarah to take advantage of her royal connections – and those close to Fergie confirm she’ll use the news as an excuse to return permanently to the UK.
“Fergie’s desperate to come back,” says one friend.
“She thinks she can turn it around, but the girls are very wary. They feel that keeping her at a distance, in a controlled environment, is the only way to manage the situation. If she comes back to London, everything becomes much harder to contain. “One of their biggest worries is that she might speak out. They’re trying to prevent that from happening. They don’t want her to make things worse – for her or the family.”
