The Truth About Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie's Husband
Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebration was a history-making spectacular in more ways than one. From the star-studded Platinum Party at the Palace concert to the stirring Trooping the Colour military parade, the entertainment was second to none. But spectators also enjoyed getting glimpses of royal family members who aren't seen as often as their more prominent relatives.
For example, during the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral on June 3, viewers were treated to a relatively rare sight of Princess Eugenie, resplendent in a bright orange dress, accompanied by her husband, Jack Brooksbank (via Daily Mail). Unlike other well-known royal spouses — say, Camilla Parker Bowles, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle, all of whom were present as well — Brooksbank has always kept a much lower profile. Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, is a far-down 12th in line to the throne, as per the BBC, so she has no real concern about taking on official responsibilities. Like Prince Harry, she is a non-working royal, so she and Brooksbank are free to pursue their own careers and causes. In fact, Eugenie and Brooksbank currently don't even live in the U.K. full-time as they move forward with their life together.
So who is this dashing young man who won the heart of a princess? Born to a company director and a chartered accountant, Jack Brooksbank followed in his parents' footsteps and went into business. Until recently, he was a wine merchant and the U.K. Brand Ambassador for the Casamigos tequila brand, according to the Daily Mail.
He and Princess Eugenie fell in love at first sight
In 2012, he met Princess Eugenie on a ski trip to Switzerland. Though she was taken aback at first by the "silly hat" Brooksbank was wearing, she quickly changed her mind when they actually spoke. Eugenie has said it was "love at first sight. We have the same passions and the same drive for life," via People. The couple's relationship was tested when the princess moved to New York for two years to work, but frequent Skype sessions helped keep the pair close, despite their geographic distance.
After six years of dating, Brooksbank proposed to his princess, and they were wed 10 months later in October 2018. Two years later, they announced on Instagram that they were expecting their first child, and in February 2021, they welcomed their son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank. His middle name was chosen in honor of his great-grandfather Prince Philip, who, sadly, died two months later. Their son made his first official appearance at the Jubilee, looking adorable in a Union Jack sweater (via People).
Recently, Brooksbank was reported to have taken on a new role with a property tycoon who is developing a resort in Lisbon, per The Mirror, and the couple is said to be living there part-time. An insider told the Mirror at the time that the career shake-up was good for the young couple, saying, "It's a very exciting time for them."
Jack Brooksbank is close to his cousin-in-law
When in the U.K., the couple lives in the historic Frogmore Cottage, the estate owned by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Eugenie is very close with her cousin Prince Harry – a relationship that has remained strong despite the tension he caused by his exit from royal life and the controversial statements he has made. She has also become quite fond of his wife, Meghan Markle. At the time Eugenie was pregnant with August, Markle was expecting her second child, and an insider told Us Weekly that they bonded over their mutual motherhood. And when Harry came to London for the funeral of Prince Philip, he made it a point to visit the Brooksbanks and meet little August for the first time, according to Cosmopolitan.
Brooksbank has a happy life and a comfortable spot in the palace family, but the one thing he doesn't have is a royal title. While it's traditional for the monarch to give titles to royal sons and their spouses, it's usually not done when a female royal marries, and commoners aren't entitled to one. The fact that Eugenie is twelfth in the line of succession, and a non-working royal at that, no doubt factored into the queen's decision (via USA Today). But Brooksbank isn't the only title-free person in the family; August wasn't given a royal title at birth, either. Nor was his littlest cousin, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, daughter of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (per Town & Country).