Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s attendance at family event to be heavily scrutinised

The former Duke and Duchess of York are becoming grandparents for the fifth time

Princess Eugenie’s latest baby joy is prompting questions over whether her parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, could once again face intense scrutiny at a future royal christening.

The princess, 36, confirmed on May 4 that she is expecting her third child, with Buckingham Palace announcing the baby is due in summer 2026.

 

Eugenie also shared the news on social media, posting a family image featuring sons August and Ernest with a baby scan.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes the happy news could also bring renewed focus on the wider York family, especially when it comes to a future christening.

He said: “Think back to the last christening (of Athena Mapelli Mozzi in December 2025). It isn’t going to go away, because it can’t.”

The commentator’s remarks come just months after Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Ms Ferguson kept a relatively low profile during the christening of their granddaughter, Athena, the daughter of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Athena was born prematurely in January 2025, with a family christening taking place in December.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are expecting their third child

 | GETTY

Celebrities like James Blunt and European royalty, including Princess Nina of Greece, were proudly in attendance.

However, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Ms Ferguson were avoiding the media spotlight.

The religious ceremony took place two months after Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s definitive loss of his remaining military titles and patronages, sparked by renewed interest in his past.

The pair arrived at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace in separate cars with tinted windows.

James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley
James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley attended the Christening of Athena Mapelli Mozzi at St James’s Palace on December 12, 2025 | GETTY

Crucially, they did not join the rest of the family for the subsequent celebration at a pub in Marylebone, returning instead to their private residences.

When asked whether any future christening for Eugenie’s third child would inevitably lead to fresh questions over whether Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Ms Ferguson would attend, Mr Fitzwilliams replied: “It is the way of the world. It is the way it is.

“One shouldn’t be talking about this at the time of a happy or forthcoming happy event in the summer.

August and Ernest

Buckingham Palace included a picture of August and Ernest holding Princess Eugenie’s pregnancy scan in the official announcement | PRINCESS EUGENIE / BUCKINGHAM PALACE

“But there is no other way of handling this, because that’s what’s going to happen.

“The interest is going to be centred on that, on them.”

He added: “Unfortunately, there’s no way around this. Any conversation dealing with the Yorks comes back to this.”