Princess Eugenie is hoping for a lower-key lifestyle for her bundle of joy.
The 30-year-old daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced Friday that she's expecting her first child. Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank have been married since October 2018. Their child will be the first grandchild for the Duke and Duchess of York. The baby will also be the ninth great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
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It's understandable why Eugenie might make that decision. With all the drama recent years have seen, any mom would hope for an easier time for her child. That said, it remains to be seen whether that decision will fly with the rest of the royals.
Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, are expecting their first child! On Friday, the couple announced they'll be welcoming a baby in early 2021. While there was no gender reveal, use of an emoji with a blue pacifier has some believing the couple will welcome a baby boy.
Eugenie and Jack live at Ivy Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace. They're just steps away from the Cambridges, a short walk to Buckingham Palace, and not too far from St. James' Palace, where sister Beatrice lives when she isn't in Italy or New York.
Beatrice and husband Edo have also been rumored to be considering Nottingham Cottage as their UK base. William and Kate lived there for a while after they were married. Harry and Meghan did as well. In fact, it's where Harry proposed.
Eugenie and Jack are looking to stay put at Ivy Cottage for now. "It was intended for them as a family home, and they have no immediate plans to move," sources close to the couple report.
The couple's child will grow up around Kensington Palace and be 11th in line to the throne.
Despite this, it's rumored that Jack and Eugenie want an "ordinary life" for their child, as well as an ordinary name.
"Even if the Queen offered them a title as a gift, it's not Eugenie or Jack's desire for their child to have a title," the source says.
"Eugenie knows that a title can be a curse as well as a blessing and she and Jack want their child to live an ordinary life and eventually work to earn a living. Titles really don't matter to Jack and Eugenie, they just want a happy healthy child."
Royal children take their rank from their fathers, thus Eugenie has HRH and is considered the Princess of York. Since Jack turned down a title when offered one when he and Eugenie married, their child isn't automatically eligible for one.
It wouldn't be unusual for the Queen to offer a title regardless. She made an offer when Princess Anne had her two children, but Anne turned down titles for Peter and Zara.
That said, Eugenie and Beatrice are in unique situations. They were the first titled grandchildren of the Queen to pursue careers in the private sector instead of becoming senior royals. There's not really a precedent for what their children's private lives should look like.
There's also the fact that their father has stepped down from his role as a senior royal. Andrew stepped away from public life in November, and from the looks of it, there's no good way for him to reenter it. Buckingham Palace continues to provide updates on Beatrice and Eugenie, but it's unclear whether that will continue if matters get worse.
If Eugenie is looking for an average life for her little one, chances are she may welcome the distance in time. She may decide to follow more closely in her cousin Harry's footsteps. The two are some of the closest among the Queen's grandchildren, so she may seek his advice.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, recently opened up about her own children's futures within the royal family. She told The Sunday Times that her children will not likely use their HRH titles after they turn 18. Lady Louise is 16 years old. James, Viscount Severn, is 12.
"We try to bring them up with the understanding that they are very likely to have to work for a living," Sophie said.
"Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but it's highly unlikely."
By the time he turns 18, it's also likely Harry and Meghan's son, Archie Harrison, will have another title. He will automatically become a prince the day Charles ascends to the throne. He will also have the option to use HRH after turning 18.
