One royal insider claimed the Queen was told the mum-to-be and Jack were moving into Frogmore Cottage after they had already discussed plans with the Sussexes. The source told the Sun on Sunday: “Senior royals were initially blindsided by the idea for Harry and Meg to let Eugenie and Jack move in.
“Obviously the Queen was told after the couples had spoken about the plan.
“But it is very much a deal done between Harry, Meghan, Eugenie and Jack. There is a close bond between them.”
But royal watchers have rallied around Princess Eugenie, claiming she “would never” make plans behind the monarch’s back.
One fan, Sabirah, wrote on Twitter: “Can you guys really stop spinning the story.
Princess Eugenie and the Queen on Maundy Thursday in 2019 (Image: GETTY)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry now live in California (Image: GETTY)
“Princess Eugenie would never do anything behind the Queen’s back. This is rubbish.”
A fan account called ‘Her Majesty The Queen’ wrote: “Eugenie would never do things ‘blindsided’.
“She has no reason why to do it.
“But anyway even if they did it, good for them.
READ MORE: Meghan and Harry faced ‘logistical challenges’ with Frogmore Cottage
Princess Eugenie and the Queen outside St George’s Chapel (Image: GETTY)
“Frogmore Cottage was renovated and it would be a shame to stay empty for so long.
“Sussexes won’t return soon (if they will ever return), so it’s a win-win.”
A third royal watcher, Toria, added: “Doubtful. Can’t see Eugenie doing that.”
Princess Eugenie is believed to be close to her grandmother the Queen.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are expecting a baby (Image: GETTY)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s residence in the UK remains Frogmore Cottage (Image: GETTY)
The youngest daughter of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew regularly attends key royal functions – such as Trooping the Colour or garden parties – with her grandmother despite not being a working royal or receiving public funding.
The young York also regularly visits her grandparents at Balmoral Castle during their summer breaks.
In the ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety, Princess Eugenie fondly spoke about the monarch, who she affectionately calls Granny, during her stays in Scotland.
She said: “I think Granny is the most happy there, I think she really, really loves the Highlands. Walks, picnics, dogs — a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs! — and people coming in and out all the time.
“Family-wise we’re all there, so it’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa to be — for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run.”
Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in October 2018 (Image: EXPRESS)
Moreover, the Queen was one of the first people to be told about Eugenie and Jacks’ engagement, as revealed by the princess.
During her engagement interview alongside Jack, Eugenie said the Queen and Prince Philip were the only people outside of their immediate families to learn about the engagement.
Eugenie said: “Granny actually knew right at the beginning, she was one of the very few people.”
Over the weekend, it emerged Eugenie has moved into the freshly-renovated cottage in Windsor with her husband of two years.
Frogmore Cottage was the main residence of Meghan and Harry between April 2019 and November last year, when they left the UK for a six-week break in Canada.
After Meghan and Harry announced they would step down as senior royals earlier this year, Buckingham Palace made it clear Frogmore Cottage, which had undergone a £2.3million renovation between late 2018 and early 2019, would remain the British base of the Sussexes.
Princess Eugenie is believed to be close to the Queen (Image: GETTY)
The couple has since relocated to California, where they bought a home over the summer, and in September Prince Harry repaid in full the cost of the renovation works at the Windsor cottage, initially forked out by taxpayers through the Sovereign Grant.
A source close to the Sussexes spoke about Princess Eugenie and Jack’s move into Meghan and Harry’s home in Windsor.
They told Elle magazine: “Frogmore Cottage continues to be The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s residence in the UK and they are delighted to be able to open up their home to Princess Eugenie and Jack as they start their own family.”
Buckingham Palace said: “Frogmore is the UK home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Any questions on it are for them.”
Princess Eugenie and Jack will likely start their new life as parents at Frogmore Cottage, as in September the couple shared with the world the princess was expecting their first child.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021.”
