Sarah Ferguson will find it “very hard” to stay away from her new grandchild, it has been claimed.
The former Duchess of York, 66, is understood to “keep more of a distance” from Princess Eugenie‘s third baby than she has with her other grandchildren, and Princess Beatrice‘s two offspring. This follows the intense scrutiny surrounding Ms Ferguson and her former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Eugenie, 36, announced her pregnancy last week through Buckingham Palace, a channel deliberately chosen by the royal family to reportedly demonstrate she remains in favour with The Firm, unlike her parents. This shift in family dynamics is now expected to bring about a change in the relationship between Fergie and her grandchildren.
Emily Nash, royal editor at HELLO Magazine, said: “While their grandmother and grandfather have spent plenty of time with August and Ernest, they are likely to keep more of a distance this time around, although I’m sure Sarah will find it very hard to stay away from a new grandchild.”
Sarah has, however, largely retreated from the public eye in recent months, owing to the continuing controversy surrounding her and her ex-husband’s past associations with financier Epstein, whom Sarah referred to as “a supreme friend” in email correspondence.
Addressing this scrutiny, Ms Nash added: “This baby will be born into very different family dynamics to those experienced by his or her older siblings.”
Yet, in years gone by, the former Duchess of York has played a significant role in the lives of Princess Beatrice and Eugenie’s children, frequently being described as a devoted and loving grandmother.
The expert went on to say: “Regardless of all that has gone on with her parents, this is wonderful news for Princess Eugenie and will give the whole royal family something positive to focus on after a tough few months. It’s something joyful and hopeful in the middle of what has been a very grim chapter in the York family’s history.”
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
His relationship with his brother, King Charles, became increasingly fraught last year amid the Epstein controversy, which ultimately resulted in Andrew being stripped of his royal titles.
Ms Nash also praised King Charles’ response to the happy news, remarking:
“The King’s warm words show that he still has a great deal of affection for Eugenie and that he has not ostracized his nieces. We might well start seeing them at family gatherings again.”