Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are going to be first-time parents within the first quarter of 2021 but it could be a while before the royal family could see their baby in person.
According to reports, Eugenie won't likely have her sister, Princess Beatrice, at the hospital to welcome the new addition to the family since the COVID-19 restrictions in the U.K. are still in effect. Currently, Kensington Palace, the compound where Eugenie lives, is under the Tier 4 restrictions and this means that households aren't allowed to mix together.
Hospitals in the U.K. also prevent pregnant mothers from having more than one support person during the labor and birth in this time of crisis. So, while Beatrice also lives in London, she will likely be barred from joining her sister as Jack is already Eugenie's support person.
Eugenie and Jack didn't disclose where they will have the baby. However, there are speculations the York princess could give birth at the Portland Hospital, where she was also born.
Meanwhile, Eugenie and Beatrice's parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, live at the Royal Lodge in the Windsor estate. The lockdown restrictions will also prevent the ex-couple from riding to London to see Eugenie and her new baby because non-essential travels are not yet allowed.
It is understood that the Yorks spent this Christmas holiday apart to follow the guidelines set by the government. The arrangement will remain the same until the tier restrictions in the U.K. change.
As with the rest of the royal family, the Yorks likely had a video conference call with each other for the holidays. Eugenie could do the same once the baby arrives to show off the child to Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and the rest of the royal family.
Royal expert Marlene Koenig said that Eugenie might release the public photo of her new baby days after the birth, following in the tradition of her cousin Prince William. But this Brooksbank child will not likely be raised in a royal household as it is what Eugenie and Jack want for their family.
Koenig said that Eugenie and Jack will raise their baby in a private and normal life, free from the constraints of royal protocols. Baby Brooksbank is set to become the 10th in line to the succession at birth and the child will be pushed further down when Princess Beatrice will have kids of her own as well.
