Almost two years after their fairytale wedding, Princess Eugenie of York, 30, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, 34, have announced they are expecting their first child together.
The exciting news was confirmed in an official statement released via the palace, with the Queen and Prince Philip said to be thrilled.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021,” a spokesperson for the palace said.
“The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted with the news.”
Mum-to-be Eugenie, who is estimated to be about four months pregnant, also shared her own personal announcement on her social channels.
In the pregnancy announcement post, she shared a sweet photo of herself and husband Jack, plus a close-up of their hands holding a pair of adorable fluffy baby shoes.
“Jack and I are so excited for early 2021….” she captioned the snap.
Indeed in recent months, royal baby speculation had been circling the couple with the bookies even going so far as to slash the odds to 1/4 that the Queen’s granddaughter would be announcing her pregnancy this year.
“The odds of Eugenie and Jack sharing some good news soon have taken another plunge, with the latest betting definitely suggesting an announcement is imminent,” a bookmakers.tv spokesperson said ahead of the official news being shared.
In the past, Sarah Ferguson has dropped big hints she was getting into grandmother mode, admitting she’d make an “excellent” granny.
“I used to write children’s books, and I am a child, I haven’t grown up,” the 60-year-old explained during an appearance on UK current affairs program The One Show.
WATCH: Princess Eugenie reveals her engagement ring. Post continues…
Princess Eugenie’s pregnancy comes almost two years after her October 2018 wedding to Jack, who previously worked as the manager of London hotspot Mahiki nightclub and is now the European manager for Casamigos, George Clooney’s tequila brand.
The couple, who were dating for seven years before Jack proposed during a holiday during a holiday in Nicaragua in Central America, tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on the 12th of October, 2018.
Opening up about the magical celebrations, Sarah told HELLO! that her daughter had found her true soulmate in Jack.
“Jack and Eugenie’s happiness and love for one another shone through on the day. We are so delighted that Jack is now officially part of the family. He is everything we would choose for Eugenie,” the children’s author mused.
As for what kind of parents they’ll be, Sarah said the pair are “all about love” and “very inclusive.”
Despite marrying into the royal family, Jack admitted that having been part of the fold for so many years already he didn’t feel any newfound pressure.
“It’s very special to be part of your family now, but it’s just Jack and Euge I suppose,” Jack humbly confessed to his fiancee during their engagement interview in January 2018.
Baby York will bump the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward down the pecking order one slot to sit at 11th in line to the British throne.
It’s believed the child won’t have an official royal title, unless the Queen decides to give Jack an earldom, which most likely would have occurred after their wedding. So, at this stage, Jack is still considered a commoner and his first child will be as well.
The newest royal baby will be Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s first grandchild and the Queen’s ninth great-grandchild.
It’s not yet known if Jack and Eugenie plan to upgrade their living situation with a bigger quarters.
The couple currently reside in the three-bedroom residence of Ivy Cottage on the private grounds of Kensington Palace.
This latest baby news comes after a challenging period for the Yorks following Prince Andrew’s disastrous fall from grace in relation to his connection to the late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein
Shortly after his train-wreck Newsnight interview on the BBC in November last year, Prince Andrew announced he would be stepping down from his royal duties and has kept a low profile for much of 2020.
The arrival of a new baby within the family will no doubt be a huge source of celebration for the Yorks.
A huge congratulations again to Eugenie and Jack!
Want more Royal Baby stories? We’ve got you covered!
The fascinating way royal births have changed throughout the years
Royal rascals: How many great-grandchildren does The Queen have?
Take a look back at some of the most iconic royal christenings of all time
“Absolute icon!” Mums praise Meghan Markle for proudly showing off her gorgeous post-partum figure