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Princess Eugenie's strict parenting rule for Ernest and August she learnt from Meghan Markle

The Duchess of Sussex revealed her golden rule when it comes to raising her children


Princess Eugenie of York attends wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. P
Georgia Brown
Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
On 22 October 2023
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Princess Eugenie opened up about her motherhood journey in a rare interview on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast, which aired on Friday. 

The mother-of-two, who shares sons August, two, and Ernest, four months, with her husband Jack Brooksbank, got candid about the joy of parenting. She also revealed the surprising parenting rule she shares with her cousin-in-law, Meghan Markle.  

"My kids are so wonderful. Augie is a two and a half-year-old firecracker and just listens to me, I don't know why. And Ernie smiles the whole time so they're really easy and wonderful boys," she said. 

eugenie pregnant© Instagram
Eugenie announced her second pregnancy in January, welcoming her son Ernest in June 2023

"If there was a tournament in the Olympics of sleeping, I think I would win it. I could sleep for Great Britain as a national sport and so I think my boys have gained that talent, and they are deep, deep sleepers. I hate to say this to all mums listening but they are really good sleepers."

Speaking on how she's raising her boys, Princess Eugenie told Kate: "'Manners maketh man' – I'm trying to do that with my kids right now."

Princess Eugenie son August meeting baby brother Ernest© Instagram
Princess Eugenie's son August pictured meeting his baby brother Ernest

The proverb, which derives from a shared understanding that courtesy and good manners should be the undercurrent of everything, is also the Duchess of Sussex's method to parenting her own children. In her tell-all interview with The Cut, the wife of Prince Harry spoke on how she's raising her son, Prince Archie. 

"We always tell him: 'Manners make the man. Manners, manners, manners, manners, manners,'" Meghan told the publication for its autumn fashion issue last year.

Archie's fourth birthday falls on the coronation© Netflix
Meghan Markle revealed that she and Prince Harry are raising their son to have good manners

Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry share an incredibly close familial relationship, so it comes as no surprise they share parenting values. 

Eugenie flew to the US to spend time with the Sussexes and their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in February 2022.

meghan markle prince archie princess lilibet montecito home© Instagram
Harry lives in Montecito with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet

Eugenie and Harry even attended the Super Bowl together, with the footage later included in the Sussexes' Netflix docuseries, released last December.

In another sweet clip, Eugenie could be seen playing with Archie on the beach. Take a look at the video below…

WATCH: Princess Eugenie plays with Archie on the beach in California

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