Zara Tindall ‘persuaded’ cousin Princess Eugenie to share pregnancy news with King Charles – report

According to a new report, Princess Anne’s daughter advised her cousin that she should share her baby news with the King before sharing it with the public

rincess Eugenie is expecting her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank, a piece of news that the princess’ cousin, Zara Tindall, allegedly advised her to share with her uncle, King Charles, according to a new report.

As per The Mail on Sunday, the daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson is said to have been “apprehensive” about how her pregnancy news might be received by other members of the Royal Family in light of her parents’ loss of York titles and her father’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February 2026.

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Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are expecting baby number three

The newspaper reported that “the Palace became involved in issuing a formal proclamation only after Eugenie’s cousin Zara Tindall, one of the few to have been entrusted with the news, persuaded her to write to the King.”

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Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie attended Cheltenham Festival together in 2024

Zara and Eugenie share a close bond and have been regularly spotted together at events, including Royal Ascot, Cheltenham Festival, and at private dinners, including one Zara hosted at Ixchel restaurant in Chelsea in December 2024.

The report detailed how Eugenie allegedly did so via an Easter card accompanied by a written letter sent to her uncle. How and if Eugenie informed her parents of the news has not become public knowledge.

Princess Eugenie reveals she is expecting

The couple reportedly received a “warm response” from the Palace upon hearing the news. The public announcement was made via a formal Buckingham Palace statement on 4 May: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their third child together, due this summer,” it read.

“August (aged five) and Ernest (aged two) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family.

“His Majesty The King has been informed and is delighted with the news.”

A social media announcement

The mother-of-two also took to Instagram to share the news, posting a photograph of her two sons looking at a scan photo of their new sibling, with the caption: “Baby Brooksbank due 2026!” followed by a series of hearts and a baby emoji.

Baby Brooksbank will be 15th in the line of succession, bumping Prince Edward down to 16th place. Despite their place in the royal running, the baby will not be an HRH, nor will they have a prince or princess title.