Royal weddings are usually grand affairs with the spotlight solely focused on the bride and groom. But in the case of Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank, something unexpected stole the show—and it wasn’t the dress or the vows. It was Meghan Markle’s baby announcement.
The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, was reportedly devastated. Her second daughter, Princess Eugenie, had been preparing for her big day, only to have the moment overshadowed by Meghan Markle’s surprise news. Meghan, then pregnant with her first child, chose to share the news at the royal event, leaving many stunned.
According to Tom Bower’s book, Meghan’s timing left royal insiders baffled. “Many wondered why Meghan chose to reveal her news on the bride’s big day,” Bower wrote. The announcement caused a stir, not just for its timing but for the breach of royal etiquette. Royal observers and insiders couldn’t believe that Meghan had chosen such a moment to drop such significant personal news.
As more details surfaced, it became clear that Princess Eugenie and her mother, Sarah Ferguson, were less than thrilled. Reports from MailOnline revealed the emotional toll it took on the family. Meghan, who was new to royal life at the time, had unknowingly or perhaps knowingly committed what some would call a major social faux pas.
But this wasn’t just any minor slip-up—it was a gaffe on a global stage. “Meghan put her foot in it when she decided that it would be the ideal moment to announce that she and Harry were expecting their first child,” wrote Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett in Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan’s Shocking Split With the House of Windsor.
Eugenie’s wedding was a highly anticipated event, but as Meghan’s pregnancy news spread, the focus shifted. What should have been Eugenie’s moment in the sun quickly turned into a media frenzy about the Sussexes’ upcoming baby. And for Eugenie, it was a heartbreaking distraction from what should have been the happiest day of her life.
While Eugenie, as a royal, is no stranger to public life and media attention, having the limelight stolen by a family member was reportedly upsetting. Her mother, Sarah Ferguson, was also said to be outraged by the timing of Meghan’s announcement. Both mother and daughter had been looking forward to the wedding day for months, only to have it eclipsed.
Despite the public faux pas, Harry and Meghan seemed blissfully unaware of the upset they had caused. Harry was overjoyed to share the news of their baby. Just a few months later, he would be announcing the birth of their son, Prince Archie. Speaking to the press outside Windsor Castle in 2019, he was full of pride and excitement, describing the moment as one of the most incredible experiences of his life.
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“I’m very excited to announce that Meghan and myself had a baby boy this morning, a very healthy baby boy,” Harry shared. “I haven’t been at many births. This is definitely my first birth—it was amazing, absolutely incredible. I’m so incredibly proud of my wife. And as every father and parent would say, your baby is absolutely amazing.”
While Harry and Meghan were overjoyed with the arrival of their son, the sting of Meghan’s baby announcement at Eugenie’s wedding continued to linger for many. For some royal watchers, it was a reminder of the couple’s occasional disregard for royal protocols and traditions.
In retrospect, Meghan’s decision to share such personal news on Eugenie’s big day seemed to foreshadow future tensions within the royal family. It became one of many moments that sparked ongoing discussions about Meghan’s role in the royal family and her relationship with her in-laws.
Eugenie has always been considered one of the quieter royals, one who enjoys her privacy. Yet, on her most important day, she was thrust into the background, leaving many wondering what could have been had the spotlight remained solely on the bride and her celebration.
For Meghan, the announcement may have been an innocent, joyous moment. But for Eugenie and her mother, it was a day that was forever marked by what could be seen as a royal misstep that left a bitter taste.
