It’s easy to imagine members of the British royal family meet their future spouses at fancy balls and international galas, but Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank’s love story has a surprisingly normal beginning.
The couple first met by chance at the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, when Eugenie’s university friends introduced the then-19-year-old to Jack.
Far from a “commoner”, he had been educated at $13,000-a-semester Stowe private school and connected almost instantly with the princess; a slow-burn romance blossomed between the pair.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank share a laugh at Royal Ascot in 2011.
(Image: Getty)But it wasn’t all smooth sailing in their early days and in 2013 Eugenie moved abroad to New York after landing a job with online auction house Paddle8.
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The distance would have been difficult for any couple to navigate, but they made it work with plenty of Skype calls and visits across the pond.
By the time Eugenie returned to London, Jack was becoming known as a heavyweight in the hospitality industry and was managing the popular Mahiki nightclub in London.
It’s the same club where Eugenie, along with sister Princess Beatrice and cousins Prince Harry and Prince William, spent some of their rebellious nights out in their 20s.
But Jack was always interested in a more family-oriented career goal; establishing a chain of pubs in the UK.
“It has been my dream since I was 18. I have fond memories of Sunday roasts in pubs with log fires, and it’s something I want to recreate,” he once said.
Perhaps it was his down-to-earth nature that kept Eugenie so smitten with her man through the seven years they dated before he popped the question in 2018.
“I was over the moon,” Eugenie told BBC 1 of the proposal in 2018. “[It was a] complete surprise. But it was the perfect moment, we couldn’t be happier.”
WATCH: Princess Eugenie reveals her engagement ring. Story continues after video.
He even chose a Cartier ring featuring a pink sapphire that closely resembled the one Eugenie’s father, Prince Andrew, presented to her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York in the 1980s.
The royal family announced the pair’s engagement in January 2018 and just a few months later, in October, the couple said “I do” in a lavish royal wedding at Windsor.
Prior to the ceremony, Eugenie told BBC 1: “It’s nerve-wracking because you want it to be perfect but then you realise that you’re going to be with the person you love forever and nothing else really matters”
Tying the knot at St George’s Chapel, the same place where Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wed, Eugenie and Jack opted for a more understated opulence on their big day.
Jack and Eugenie on their wedding day in 2018.
(Image: Getty)The princess wore a custom gown by designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos, featuring an off-the-shoulder design that highlighted a scar on her back from scoliosis surgery.
And just two years later the couple had more exciting news to share: Eugenie was pregnant!
In September 2020 Buckingham Palace confirmed Eugenie was pregnant and her child with Jack arrived in February 2021, a healthy baby boy they named August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.
Later on in January 2023, Eugenie announced to Instagram that the pair were expecting their second child together.
“We’re so excited to share that there will be a new addition to our family this summer,” the princess wrote.
Now proud parents, the surprisingly low-key royal couple are making the most of private family time in their son’s first years.
Relive Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s beautifully normal royal romance in the stunning gallery below.
Jack and Eugenie first met in the princess’ university years and kicked off their romance.
Her royal parents loved Jack right away according to reports, and Sarah looked very happy with him and her daughter here in 2012.
Eugenie moved to New York in 2013 but made plenty of trips home to the UK to visit Jack, like at this charity event.
She was back again to attend Royal Ascot with him in 2014.
The pair enjoyed luxe nights out on the town thanks to Jack’s role in the hospitality industry.
As well as plenty high-brow events alongside Eugenie’s royal family.
By 2015, when this photo was snapped, there were rumours of an upcoming royal engagement for the pair, but they continued to take things slow.
Eugenie teased fans with this little white number in 2016, but Jack still didn’t pop the question.
He soon became a more permanent fixture at royal family gatherings, such as the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in 2017.
Jack finally asked Eugenie to be his wife while on vacation in Nicaragua in 2018, by a stunning lake.
Eugenie said of the proposal: “The lake was so beautiful. The light was just a special light I had never seen. I actually said, ‘This is an incredible moment,’ and then he popped the question, which was really surprising even though we have been together seven years.”
The ring Jack chose a Cartier ring with a pink sapphire for his bride, while Eugenie revealed the Queen was among the first people she told. She said: “Granny actually knew right at the beginning. She was very happy, as was my grandfather [Prince Philip].
The newly engaged pair attended Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s wedding together.
Eugenie and Jack tied the knot on October 12, 2018 in a beautiful royal ceremony attended by family and A-list friends.
They made the most of life as newlyweds and mostly avoided the public spotlight.
“Jack and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary today,” Eugenie captioned this sweet Instagram snap in 2020.
And in September 2020 the pair announced big news: they were expecting!
On February 9, 2021 they welcomed son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, Eugenie writing on Instagram: “Our hearts are full of love for this little human, words can’t express.”
The following year they marked their son’s first birthday on a ski trip, proud mum Eugenie penning: “Happy 1st Birthday to our little hero Augie. You are such a special soul that brightens every room with your smile and wave. You have made us so very proud. We love you!”
The happy family of three may be royals, but they choose to live a much more down-to-earth life away from the cameras.
In May 2022, Eugenie marked her husband’s birthday with a sweet tribute reading: “Happy birthday to you my Jack. 36 years today. What a journey it’s been so far. Can’t wait for so many more.”
Platinum Jubilee
In June 2022, August joined his parents as they celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, which marked 70 years on the throne.
“The most perfect day to celebrate 70 years 🥳🥳🥳🥳,” Eugenie wrote on Instagram.
In January 2023, Princess Eugenie shared this adorable snap – taken by Jack – to Instagram to share the amazing news she was expecting another baby!
Her mother, Sarah Ferguson commented: “Granny heaven.”
