After Princess Eugenie’s Son Was Born, She Revealed A Touching Tribute To Prince Philip

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year – and given the state of the world, we wouldn’t blame you – you’ll have heard all about the drama engulfing the British royal family. The sad loss of Philip is undoubtedly also hard for his loved ones to bear. But amongst all the turmoil, there’s been a very welcome ray of sunshine.

And it’s all down to Eugenie and her son. The princess isn’t as high profile as cousins William and Harry, so you’d be forgiven for not knowing she was pregnant. Her 2018 marriage to Jack Brooksbank was also overshadowed by Harry and Meghan’s wedding that same year. We hope there are no hard feelings between the two couples!

Still, Eugenie took back the spotlight with her pregnancy announcement. Yes, the princess told her Instagram followers the glorious news in September 2020. The super-cute bear booties she posted pretty much gave the game away. She added a baby emoji to the end of her message, too, in case any of her fans still hadn’t joined the dots. But Eugenie’s new mom life would ultimately be tinged with sorrow.

Just two months after welcoming her son into the world, Eugenie had to deal with the loss of her grandfather Philip. Alongside his wife the Queen – who must have been mourning more keenly than anyone – the prince consort was arguably the backbone of the royal family. His passing marked the end of an era, then, and the U.K. reacted accordingly.

In the hours after the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, tributes from around the world flooded into Buckingham Palace. All across Philip’s home country, flags were at half-mast, while the BBC replaced its normal schedule with programming dedicated to the prince. But among all the eulogies and honors given to the late royal, Eugenie’s was among the most touching.

Eugenie shared some of her favorite memories of the duke on Instagram. Alongside a photo of her and her sister Beatrice together with Philip, she sweetly recalled, “I remember incinerating the sausages and you swooping in to save the day. I remember your hands and your laugh and your favorite beer.”

Eugenie clearly felt a strong connection with her grandfather. And we can only imagine the joy the late prince would have felt when he first learned of his granddaughter’s engagement. From their first encounter way back in 2010, Eugenie and Jack were destined to go the distance.

And royal watchers may have been clapping with glee when the couple attended Royal Ascot together the following year. But Eugenie and Jack’s romance hasn’t always been smooth sailing. When the princess relocated to New York, she left her beloved in the U.K. Could they somehow make a long-distance relationship work, or would it be curtains?

Well, of course, true love trumped all in the end. And after Eugenie returned home, Jack popped the question – much to the delight of her mom. “The good news is Jack... works... for Casamigos Tequila,” Sarah Ferguson tweeted. “He’ll just hand me the tequila and say, ‘Come on, mother-in-law, down it.’” No wonder she welcomed him into the family! But as the big day approached, one question loomed over the proceedings.

You see, Philip wasn’t in the best of health in 2018. Not really surprising, given that he was 97 years old... And, naturally, that led to speculation that perhaps the prince would be too unwell to attend his beloved granddaughter’s wedding. While he’d been at Harry and Meghan’s nuptials five months prior, the media had no idea whether he’d be turning up until the guests arrived at Windsor Castle.

In the end, though, Philip was there as Eugenie and Jack tied the knot. So, too, were the British public, as viewers tuned in in their millions to see the happy couple on TV. But what would come next for the newlyweds? Plenty of fans – as well as a few family members, we bet – were undoubtedly expecting baby news.

Well, although Eugenie held off telling the world until her sister got married, she would indeed become a mom. That sweet Instagram post with the booties came in September 2020. The princess also hinted at how far she was into her pregnancy, writing, “Jack and I are so excited for early 2021.” Not too long to wait, then!

Little August duly arrived in February 2021 – and at a pretty sturdy 8 pounds, 1 ounce, too. Of course, we got the usual royal announcement, but there was also a more personal take from mom herself. Yes, Eugenie took to Instagram not long after August was born, sharing a black-and-white snap of her and her husband holding hands with the new arrival. Aww.

Mind you, we didn’t actually know August’s name at this point. And before Eugenie and Jack finally revealed what they’d be calling their son, the Duke of Edinburgh’s health seemingly waned. Just days before the announcement, Philip was admitted to hospital – reportedly as “a precautionary measure.” Eugenie referenced this, too, when unveiling her son’s name.

Where did the princess break her news? On Instagram, of course! “On his grandfather’s birthday weekend, thinking of my grandfather, we are introducing our little boy,” she wrote. And the photo she posted may have melted hearts even further. Dad Jack is cradling a sleeping August in the shot, while Eugenie is gently touching her son’s chest.

The big reveal, though, was the name. And it appeared that Eugenie was keeping it in the family. You see, “August” pays homage to her son’s fifth great-grandfather Prince Albert. Yes, the husband of Queen Victoria! August was one of Albert’s middle names, and rather suitably it means “magnificent.”

“Hawke” was also taken from a fifth great-grandfather. It was chosen in tribute to Jack’s own distant relative, the clergyman Edward Hawke Brooksbank. But for the final part of their child’s name, the couple honored someone much closer to home.

What’s the adorable little boy called in full, then? August Philip Hawke Brooksbank. That’s right: Eugenie picked that final name for the duke himself. At any time, this would have been a sweet gesture. But with Philip's recent passing, the tribute became infinitely more moving. However to truly understand the significance of the name, fans need only look a little further back.

See, on her wedding day in 2018, Eugenie excitedly grasped her father's arm. Her other hand held a beautiful bouquet, as if she needed another reminder that today was her big day. The princess thought back on everything that brought her to this heart-stopping moment.

Not many girls get to be born in literal royalty. But as the daughter of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Eugenie was in that situation exactly. Granted, her chances of ever becoming queen were slim to none.

She grew up just out of reach of the crown and all its fortunes. Family members considered "working royals," due to their proximity to the throne, received a generous allowance from the Privy Purse.

But as the daughter of the second son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Eugenie would never have access to that treasure trove. Still, she never wanted for anything. She was a perfectly happy child, though not untouched by family controversy.

When Eugenie was just six years old, Prince Andrew and Sarah divorced. This decision greatly worried her and her older sister, Beatrice, but at least they would always have each other to lean on.

Fortunately, the split was amicable as could be. The parents shared joint custody and tried to be there for all the big milestones in their girls' lives. Eugenie called them "the best divorced couple I know," as they stuck by her during some trying times.

By her tween years, it was clear that Eugenie was suffering from scoliosis. The curvature of her spine grew so severe that doctors had no choice: they surgically inserted metal rods into the Princess' back.

Nevertheless, Eugenie persevered through that hardship. She glided through boarding school and enrolled in Newcastle University, where she studied art history and literature. However, her most memorable college moment occurred on the ski slopes, not the library.

During winter break in 2011, the Princess accompanied some friends to a resort in Switzerland. There, she met a young wine merchant named Jack Brooksbank. He was handsome, smart, and kind, though there was one slight problem.

In a slightly awkward twist, Eugenie had a beloved dog named Jack! However, she wasn't going to let the name coincidence get in the way of true love. She and Jack became an official couple, right as the Princess prepared to launch her career.

Following her passion for art, the Princess worked at an auction firm in New York for a couple years after graduation. She returned in London in 2015 to join the prestigious Hauser & Wirth gallery, where she rose to a director position.

Of course, she realized her talents shouldn't be focused solely on making money. She also took on roles in numerous charities, many of which allowed her to work with children. Those experiences really got her thinking about her own future.

In 2018, Jack and Eugenie took the next big step: engagement. The entire world was abuzz with excitement for yet another royal wedding, as was the Princess herself. However, this also meant that she had a ton of planning to do.

In fact, Eugenie came to resent her royal title as the hype built. She was lucky, however, to have her grandmother Queen Elizabeth supporting her throughout the process. The Princess took on her recommendations for a full royal ceremony, but still wanted to stand out.

The bride-to-be pinpointed her tiara as a way to really make her mark on history. Determined to be her own person, Eugenie declined to reuse a famous piece from a recent royal bride. Instead, she went way, way back.

As she scoured the family's extensive jewel collection, Eugenie learned about Margaret Greville. The wife of a Member of Parliament, she established herself as a prominent socialite around the turn of the century with a distinct sense of style.

In particular, the Princess had her eye on the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara. This headwear set itself apart from most other tiaras in the collection due to its prominent colored stones. No recent royal wedding dared feature such an accessory.

However, Eugenie wasn't afraid to go where no princess had gone before. She sported the bold tiara as she walked down the aisle. Many attendees were so entranced that they forgot to look for the sparking wedding ring! Eugenie and Jack's wedding passed like a dream, with royal fans the world over thrilled to see a forgotten set of royal jewels make their way out of the vault.