Princess Eugenie Expecting Third Child; Baby Due in Summer 2026

Key facts

• Princess Eugenie, 36, and Jack Brooksbank, 40, are expecting their third child.
• The baby is due in summer 2026.
• King Charles has been informed and is 'delighted' with the news.
• The child will be 15th in line to the throne, displacing the Duke of Edinburgh to 16th.
• The couple's sons, August (5) and Ernest (2), are 'very excited' to have another sibling.
• The baby will be the fifth grandchild of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
• The new arrival will be the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
• The child will not hold an HRH title.

Royal Baby Announcement

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting their third child, Buckingham Palace announced on social media. The palace stated that King Charles has been informed and is 'delighted' with the news. The baby is due in summer 2026, as revealed by the princess on her Instagram account.

Line of Succession Shift

The new arrival will be 15th in line to the British throne, moving the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, down to 16th place. The child will not hold an HRH title, consistent with the status of Eugenie's other children. This baby will be the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the third born since her death in 2022.

Family Reactions and Details

Eugenie, 36, shared the news on Instagram with a photo of her sons August, five, and Ernest, two, holding a baby scan. The caption read: 'Baby Brooksbank due 2026!' followed by hearts and a baby emoji. The palace message noted that the two boys are 'also very excited to have another sibling join the family.' Jack Brooksbank celebrated his 40th birthday on Sunday.

Timeline of Eugenie and Brooksbank's Family

The couple married in October 2018. Their first son, August, was born in February 2021, and their second, Ernest, in May 2023. The new baby will be the fifth grandchild of Eugenie's father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following the birth of Princess Beatrice's daughter Athena Mapelli Mozzi in January 2025.

Context: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Status

Eugenie's father, the former prince, was stripped of his royal titles, styles, and honours by King Charles last year after further details of his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after correspondence in the Epstein files suggested he may have passed on sensitive trade information. He was released under investigation after 11 hours in custody and has denied any wrongdoing. Eugenie, her sister Princess Beatrice, and their mother Sarah Ferguson are repeatedly mentioned in the documents released by the US Department of Justice, though being named in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.

Implications for the Royal Family

When Mountbatten-Windsor lost his titles, both princesses retained theirs, but neither is a working royal. The new baby, like Eugenie's other children, will not be a working royal and will not receive public funding. The birth will further extend the line of succession, pushing other royals further down the list.

The bottom line

• Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are expecting their third child, due in summer 2026.
• The baby will be 15th in line to the throne, moving Prince Edward to 16th.
• King Charles has expressed delight at the news.
• The child will be the fifth grandchild of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
• Eugenie's father, Andrew, remains under investigation related to the Epstein scandal.
• The new arrival will not hold an HRH title and will not be a working royal.