My humble & generous man
Eugenie praises fiance Jack as they prepare for big day
PRINCESS Eugenie has praised fiance Jack Brooksbank as being “so humble and generous” despite taxpayers being left with a £2.25million bill for the couple’s lavish wedding.
Ahead of the extravagant ceremony at Windsor Castle today, she said it “was love at first sight” when they met at exclusive Swiss ski resort Verbier in 2010.
Referring to herself and her other half as “Team Euge and Jack”, the princess added she was “all butterflies and nervous” when he introduced himself.
She said: “I think I rang my mum that night and said ‘I’ve met this guy Jack’.
“I remember being like ‘I really, really like this guy. I really want him to like me too’, and then you gave me this huge windscreen wiper wave and that was it, ‘right, he likes me’.”
Drinks brand manager Jack, 32, hailed the way Eugenie, 28, has organised the wedding, saying: “She’s been incredible.
HARDSHIP
“She has the ability to do a million things at once in her brain.”
Eugenie then said of Jack: “He’ll make you feel a million dollars and [he’s] so humble and generous.”
Many people are unhappy the wedding will cost the public so much – an estimated £250,000 in clean-up fees and £2million for policing and security.
The event is expected to attract thousands to the Berkshire town.
The security there was noticeably stepped up yesterday.
Kerry Evans, one of the well-wishers who has travelled to Windsor for the big day, said: “I’m a huge royal fan, but possibly we should make the royals pay for the security.
“When we are all tightening our belts and we are all in financial hardship because of the cuts maybe the royals could all club together.”
Kerry, 54, who is from Hull and has been camping by the Thames since Tuesday to get a good spot to celebrate the wedding, added: “Why aren’t [the royals] putting their hands in their pockets for the security? They would have won a lot of support.”
An insider said this week that Eugenie could have saved taxpayers a fortune by getting married at the chapel in the grounds of Royal Lodge where the reception is being held.
The source said: “There would be no
need for a carriage procession through Windsor, so no police protection headache, and a £2million saving.”
Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park is the home of Eugenie’s father Prince Andrew. It is just over three miles from the wedding venue, St George’s Chapel at the castle.
Eugenie, the ninth in line to the throne, joked she might sprint down the aisle.
She said: “It’s a bit scary – but at the
end of the day you get to marry the person you love.”
Turning to Jack, she added: “And you’re going to be at the end of the aisle, and I’m going to be running towards you.”
Her sister Princess Beatrice, 29, will be a maid of honour and will perform a reading. Eugenie said: “She’s my big sissy. I’ve looked up to her my whole life.
“I’ve wanted to be her at times. We’ve fought over Converse trainers and who gets what… We’re best friends.”
Jack and the Queen’s granddaughter Eugenie had a last-minute rehearsal yesterday at the chapel.
The ceremony will begin at 11am today and will feature performances from the likes of classical singer Andrea Bocelli before the couple’s open-top carriage procession through the town.
Self-confessed “bad dancer” Jack said they have not practised a wedding dance.
The Queen arrived at the castle yesterday as did Prince Andrew, his ex-wife – Eugenie’s mother Sarah Ferguson – and Princess Beatrice.
Stella McCartney, Erdem and British brand Suzannah are among the favourites to be the wedding dress designer.
The event is being screened live on ITV show This Morning from 9.25am today, with presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.