EUGENIE’S ENGAGED!
HAVING POPPED THE QUESTION DURING A SPECTACULAR SUNSET, FIANCÉ JACK SPEAKS OF HIS LOVE FOR THE ROYAL BRIDE-TO-BE
And her ring’s fit for a princess
This is the story of a princess and a barman. For their engagement pictures, the princess donned a pre-worn Erden dress and a ring that experts speculate cost a mere $13,000. The barman, who grew up to become a wine merchant, wore a broad smile.
Of course, Eugenie (27) – daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson – is a very modern princess, who holds down a job in the art world. Her fiancé, Jack Brooksbank (31), comes from a well-established and wealthy family, and went to the $66,000-a-year school attended by Harry’s exgirlfriends Chelsy Davy and Florence Brudenell-Bruce.
Their wedding, taking place later this year at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, will be a romantic confection of royalty, show business and old friends but, insists one of her circle, “They’re very down-toearth. They are very suited.”
Or, as Eugenie puts it, “We have the same passions and drive for life.”
Which is not to say that she and her husband-to-be aren’t head-over-heels in love. The happy couple got engaged during a holiday in Nicaragua earlier this month and the proposal could have come from the pages of a romantic novel.
It was sunset by a volcano and lake, with birds flying overhead.
“The lake was so beautiful,” says Eugenie. “The light was just a special light I had never seen. I actually said, ‘This is an incredible moment,’ and then he popped the question, which was really surprising even though we have been together seven years.
“I was over the moon... complete surprise. But it was the perfect moment. We couldn’t be happier.”
Jack echoes, “It was amazing.”
The ring, which features an unusual orange-pink sapphire from Sri Lanka and bears a striking resemblance to mum Fergie’s ruby engagement band, has a story too.
“I found a ring in a jeweller’s and then proposed to Eugenie without it, and we came back and designed the diamonds around this padparadscha sapphire,” explains Jack.
“I went and found an amazing sapphire but then didn’t want to do anything until Eugenie had signed off on it. It changes colour from every different angle that you look at it, which is what I think of Eugenie. That she changes colour and is just so amazing.”
There has been frenzied speculation about the cost, with figures ranging from $13,000 to $190,000. But according to Sophie Lomax – head of design at Europe’s largest online diamond retailer, 77diamonds.com – it could have been comparatively inexpensive. Sophie believes the stone has been colourtreated, making it less expensive than a paler, natural gem.
“Coloured gem stones are becoming increasingly popular as women like to wear designs which are more personal to them and their partner,” she says.
The proposal was the happy culmination of a long and settled relationship, which began during a skiing trip to celebrate Prince Andrew’s 50th birthday. Back then, Eugenie was a student of 20 and Jack was 24 and working as a waiter and barman.
“It was love at first sight,” says Jack. “I love
Eugenie so much, and I am so excited to be telling friends and family and very excited to spend a lifetime together.”
Unsurprisingly, their families are delighted – not least Eugenie’s grandmother, the Queen.
“Granny actually knew right at the beginning,” she says. “She was one of the very few people right at the beginning. We literally just told our mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and our grandparents.
She was very happy, as was my grandfather.”
Happiest of all was Fergie (58), who shared the news with typical ebullience in a series of social media posts.
The first was a tweet on the morning of the announcement. It read, “A total embrace of goodness AND JOY, we love Jack and I AM SO EXCITED to have a son, a brother and a best friend, Eugenie [sic] is one of the finest people
I know and so together it will BE PURE HARMONY”.
The next featured a picture of the couple in a speedboat. “They float with laughter and love... although a boat helps!” it said.
In a third, Fergie wrote, “I always say that the river flows well to it’s [sic] destiny because of the guidance of a solid rock.”
The images were later re-tweeted by her former husband Andrew, but an interview Fergie had planned with the BBC was suddenly cancelled and the prince (57) issued a simple statement instead, writing,
“I’m just completely overjoyed for them and wish them every happiness.”
Not to be squashed, Fergie posted again in the evening, this time with a photograph of Eugenie and Jack in a garden with the words, “They make laughter and we feel the joy. Thank you for the magic, Jack and Eugie, so proud of you.”
For now, the only details that have emerged of the wedding is its venue and the fact that it will take place during the British autumn. Speculation about the guests and bridesmaids, however, is already rife.
Former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter offers an informed view, starting with a punt of Princess Beatrice – “Matron of honour, probably, as she is older,” he says.
Other names in the frame include Eugenie’s close friends – and Harry’s exes – Cressida Bonas and Natalie Pinkham, along with Richard Branson’s daughter Holly and models
Cara and Poppy Delevingne.
“Is Eugenie a celebrity groupie? Well, probably,” he adds.
For many, Fergie’s role in the celebrations is the most interesting question.
“That would be the first time she would be in a formal gathering with the royal family for a long, long time,” Dickie points out.
“The family are very polite – extremely polite – and they will welcome her as mother of the bride, and that’s it.”
But that’s all in the future, and, for now, it’s up to the bride- and groom-to-be to organise their big day.
“I’m not sure I’ll get a word in edgeways,” Jack jokes, prompting Eugenie to respond, “We’ll do it together.”
Which sounds like the perfect start to a happy marriage.