Princess Eugenie's 'make or break' battle in Andrew crisis as parents 'no longer centre of world'

Princess Eugenie has announced that she is pregnant with her third child, with King Charles being ‘delighted’ by the happy news. The youngest daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson made the announcement on Monday, sharing a photo of her two sons holding an ultrasound picture. 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 (aged 5) and Ernest (aged 2) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family. His Majesty The King has been informed and is delighted with the news." Rumours of the princess’ pregnancy first emerged when she and her sister Princess Beatrice were snapped on a day out in London, with royal watchers speculating as Eugenie appeared to be hiding her baby bump before the news was confirmed. Beatrice and Eugenie have been keeping a low profile in recent months, as their parents continue to grapple with the fallout of the Epstein scandal. But according to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the birth of a new royal baby is the happy news the York family needed. Jennie told the Mirror : “Royal babies are always happy events — who doesn’t love the innocence of a new life, devoid of any scandal or controversy? So I think most rational people will be wishing Eugenie well — especially after the strains of the past year or so. “And the King has made it known that he is delighted, supporting the view that he remains fond of his nieces despite the scandals engulfing their parents.” For several months, rumours have swirled that Beatrice and Eugenie’s relationship with their parents has been under severe strain, with some commentators even speculating that Eugenie is not on speaking terms with Andrew. But according to Jennie, no matter the status of their relationship, Andrew and Fergie are undoubtedly thrilled at the prospect of welcoming a new grandchild. “I’m sure both Andrew and Sarah will share their daughter’s joy,” Jennie said, “Although the state of their relationship with both Eugenie and Beatrice remains unknown.” The royal expert believes that while the scandal surrounding the former Duke and Duchess of York rages on, Eugenie is solely focused on her growing family, and the princess and her husband are likely all the more close for having weathered the storm together. Jennie said: “I think the new baby suggests that Eugenie and her husband, Jack, are hunkering down together and getting on with nurturing and expanding their family unit — in spite of all the surrounding noise. “When a crisis like this happens, it can make or break a couple, and it looks very much as if Eugenie and Jack have been brought even closer together.” Both Beatrice and Eugenie have been dragged into their parents’ indiscretions after being named in the Epstein files, and while the presence of their names in the files does not indicate any wrongdoing, both the sisters have been under immense pressure to speak out on Andrew and Fergie’s scandal. But according to Jennie, the arrival of their new baby will take precedence for Eugenie, as she continues to stay out of the spotlight and live her life privately while the storm around her parents continues to unfold. Jennie said: “Eugenie has been under considerable strain since the Epstein scandal blew up. She has watched her parents face public humiliation and separation after decades together, she herself has been in the headlines over her acquaintance with Epstein, and her father is still under police investigation. “But she has her man, her sons and a new life on the way — and they, I’m sure, are now the centre of her world .”