Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were noticeably absent from Princess Eugenie’s sweet birthday photos for her son, Ernest, with the pregnant royal paying a heartfelt tribute to her “fearless golden boy” on social media

An adult figure embraces a child, standing beneath a canopy of vibrant, autumnal foliage, the ground blanketed with fallen leaves.

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Princess Eugenie has shared a heartwarming social media post dedicated to her young son Ernest(Image: princesseugenie/Instagram)

Princess Eugenie has shared a heartwarming social media post dedicated to her young son Ernest as he marked his third birthday – but there was no sign of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor or Sarah Ferguson.

Eugenie, 36, was pictured planting a big kiss on her little boy’s cheek, alongside a series of other snaps of ‘Ernie’ kicking a football. One showed him holding hands with an older boy believed to be his big brother August, 5, and another of him playing with balloons.

Eugenie accompanied the post with a moving tribute to her “tiger loving, hat wearing, constantly hugging, fearless golden boy Ernie”. She added: “You light up every room with your deep voice and infectious smile.”

Hundreds of well-wishers flooded the comments section, sending their birthday wishes to the young royal.

An individual engages in the act of kicking a soccer ball along a paved pathway, with a white picket fence visible in the background.

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Ernie was seen kicking a football in Eugenie’s heartwarming post(Image: princesseugenie/Instagram)

There was no reference to Eugenie’s parents, Mountbatten Windsor and Fergie, in the photos or the message caption. It came after claims last year that Eugenie and her sister Beatrice were distancing themselves from their parents over their ongoing scandal with links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew was stripped of his titles by the King and was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his connections with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Last week it emerged that detectives investigating Andrew will consider allegations of sexual misconduct in their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office.

Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to the convicted sex offender.

Eugenie and her sister Beatrice stayed away from the traditional royal gathering on Easter Sunday, with the agreement of Charles, amid the furore over their father. The princesses, who are granddaughters of the late Queen Elizabeth II, have themselves come under scrutiny after their names surfaced in the Epstein files, the US Department of Justice’s document release concerning the convicted sex offender.

One email exchange indicated their mother Sarah brought her daughters to visit Epstein in the US just days after his release from prison for child sex offences. Eugenie and Beatrice were 19 and 20 at the time, respectively. The former duke and duchess were last spotted publicly alongside senior royals at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September last year.

Two individuals, one wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and the other dressed in a navy blue t-shirt and a cap, are seen walking side by side on a paved sidewalk. A black vehicle with a prominent alloy wheel is parked nearby on the side of the road.

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Ernie was seen walking alongside – who is believed to be – his brother August(Image: princesseugenie/Instagram)

Meanwhile, little Ernie was 13th in line to the throne when he was born in 2023 and is now 14th, with brother August currently sitting at 13th.

Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace announced that Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were “very pleased” to be expecting their third child, due this summer. The King was “delighted” by the news, while August and Ernie were said to be “very excited” about welcoming a new sibling, the palace confirmed.

In a photograph posted to Instagram by Eugenie, 36, Ernie, dressed in a Chelsea football kit, and August, sporting a long-sleeved grey t-shirt, were pictured holding a baby scan image.

The princess posted: “Baby Brooksbank due 2026!” followed by a series of red heart emojis and one of a baby. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “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.

“August and Ernest 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 child dressed in a blue cap and gray long-sleeve shirt is standing on a paved surface, skillfully juggling multiple multi-colored balloons. The child appears to be engaged in a playful activity outdoors.

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Ernie was 13th in line to the throne when he was born in 2023 and is now 14th(Image: princesseugenie/Instagram)

The baby, who will not hold an HRH title, will arrive as 15th in line to the throne, with their great uncle the Duke of Edinburgh dropping to 16th place. The child will also become the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the third to be born since her passing in 2022.

The new arrival will be the fifth grandchild of former Duke and Duchess of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, following the birth of Princess Beatrice’s daughter Athena Mapelli Mozzi in January last year.

The announcement from Buckingham Palace, which shared the news across its social media channels, is widely regarded as a show of solidarity with Eugenie amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her father.

Mr Brooksbank marked his 40th birthday on Sunday, with the King’s niece celebrating the milestone by posting photographs on her Instagram story of her husband unwinding on a beach with the caption “happy 40th my love”.

The couple wed at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in October 2018.

SOURCE: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/eugenie-andrew-sarah-ferguson-photos-37227476