Eugenie’s baby boy will not be given royal title

Although Princess Eugenie’s baby son is 11th in line to the throne, he will not have a title nor an official royal role, meaning he won’t carry out any royal duties.

Friends say the Queen’s granddaughter has decided to focus on motherhood and her career rather than picking up any royal duties in the future, and wants the same for her child.

Her son with husband Jack Brooksbank was born on Tuesday and is 11th in line to the throne behind Prince Charles, Prince William and his children George, Charlotte and Louis, Prince Harry and his son Archie, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie. The Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward has been nudged down to 12th.  

The Queen could bestow a title on her ninth great-grandchild if desired, but it will not be asked for, sources say. The name of the baby has not yet been revealed. 

Although Princess Eugenie’s baby son is 11th in line to the throne, he will not have a title nor an official royal role, meaning he won’t carry out any royal duties. Pictured, a graphic illustrating the order of succession. Princess Anne follows behind her younger brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward (not pictured) despite being older because of the system of male primogeniture, which was in place at the time of her birth but was revised in 2011

Princess Eugenie’s baby son with husband Jack Brooksbank will not have a title nor an official royal role

Last year there was speculation that Eugenie, 30, a director at a London art gallery, and her sister, Princess Beatrice, 32, who works for a tech start-up, would be asked to take on more duties following the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from frontline royal life.

But sources said both princesses, while happy to support the Queen when required at official receptions or services, have a very different outlook. 

Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi last year and is step-mother to his son ‘Wolfie’, four.

A family friend said both women have been shaken by the negative media attention received by their father Prince Andrew over the Epstein scandal and are keen to keep their own families out of the public eye. 

The prince has long fought for them to be recognised as senior royals but it seems that his daughters have dissuaded him.

‘Eugenie is adamant that she wants to keep her child out of the limelight as much as possible,’ the source said.

‘Yes, she will still work with charities that are close to her heart, like the Scoliosis Association, but she won’t be taking over patronages left over by Harry and Meghan, and she won’t be standing in for them at public events.’ 

The source added the Yorks have also now ‘resigned’ themselves to the fact that they have been relegated to the fringes of official royal family life.

The source said: ‘It’s a very difficult situation and the girls will continue to support the charities that are close to their hearts and do an incredible amount of work for them, but that will be the extent of it.’

Neither Eugenie nor her elder sister is supported by the public purse or receives police protection, unless on occasional public engagements.

They accompany the Queen and other senior royals to some official functions, such large receptions at Buckingham Palace or garden parties, but this will be the extent of their remit in the future.

The couple’s son, who was born on Tuesday and is 11th in line to the throne, is as yet unnamed

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson outside the Portland Hospital in London with Princess Eugenie in 1990

Another source likened the situation to that of the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie Christine who also receive no public funding. 

They do not have any formal patronages associated with Buckingham Palace but the couple do, on occasions, ‘make up the numbers’ when requested.

Another source described both Eugenie and her sister as ‘lovely young women’ who could be an asset to the Royal Family but agreed there was little public appetite for a ‘bloated’ monarchy.