Sarah Ferguson is preparing to become a grandmother again as her daughter Princess Eugenie is currently expecting her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank. While the former Duchess of York has been a devoted and hands-on grandmother to Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice's combined five children over the years, her newest grandchild will be born into very different family dynamics amid the fallout from her links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sarah has been keeping a low profile away from the royal family, most recently being pictured for the first time in months in Austria. But despite the ongoing controversy, the former duchess will likely find it "very hard to stay away" from the newest addition to the family this year, HELLO!'s royal editor Emily Nash says.
Sarah's commitment to family
"This baby will be born into very different family dynamics to those experienced by his or her older siblings," Emily explains in the new issue of HELLO!. "While their grandmother and grandfather have spent plenty of time with August and Ernest, they are likely to keep more of a distance this time around, although I’m sure Sarah will find it very hard to stay away from a new grandchild."
© Getty ImagesBuckingham Palace announced Princess Eugenie's baby news on 4 May, revealing that King Charles "has been informed and is delighted with the news." Eugenie, who also shares sons August, five, and Ernest, two, is expecting her third child over the summer.
"Regardless of all that has gone on with her parents, this is wonderful news for Princess Eugenie and will give the whole royal family something positive to focus on after a tough few months. It’s something joyful and hopeful in the middle of what has been a very grim chapter in the York family’s history," Emily says.
"The King’s warm words show that he still has a great deal of affection for Eugenie and that he has not ostracised his nieces. We might well start seeing them at family gatherings again."
A doting grandmother
© Alamy Stock PhotoSarah first became a grandmother in 2021 when Eugenie welcomed her first son, August. The former Duchess of York opened up about bonding with her grandson, telling HELLO! at the time: "Well, baby August is phenomenal. He's a very strong little chap. August thinks I'm hysterical."
At the time of the interview, Beatrice was also expecting her first child with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Beatrice now shares daughters Sienna, four, and Athena, one, with her husband, and is a stepmother to his son, Wolfie, from a previous relationship.
"I'm so lucky. And I love little Wolfie, my step-grandson. He's five and I really enjoy it because he says: 'I want to go and see Duchy!'" Sarah said.
Speaking to HELLO! in 2023, months before Eugenie welcomed her second son, the former duchess shared she was most proud of her daughters for being great mothers. "I'm often asked whether I am a proud grandmother, and of course I adore my grandchildren, but what I’m most proud of is that my daughters have turned out to be such wonderful mothers," she admitted.
© Instagram / @sarahferguson15Keeping a low profile
Sarah has faced renewed public scrutiny in recent months. The controversy has been linked to her former husband Andrew, whose associations with Jeffrey Epstein - highlighted by previously reported communications - led to his withdrawal from public royal duties and the removal of several official roles.
The former duchess was last seen publicly with the rest of the royal family in September last year when she attended the Duchess of Kent's funeral. She was then photographed on 12 December at St James's Palace for the christening of her youngest granddaughter, Athena.
Sarah was most recently photographed at a small Austrian village on 16 April, in pictures published by The Sun.
To read the full article about what Eugenie's baby news means to the royal family, join HELLO!'s VIP club for instant access to the magazine on your digital device. The print magazine is available on newsstands now.
