Zara Tindall played a key role in Princess Eugenie's announcement of her pregnancy to her uncle, King Charles, sources have claimed. Buckingham Palace announced the joyous news last Monday and said Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, are "very pleased".
It also said that the King had been informed and was "delighted" for his niece and her husband. The new royal baby is due to arrive "in the summer". Eugenie's sons, Ernest and August, are said to be "very excited" for the new addition.
Now sources have given a rare insight into how the princess broke the news to the royals before the official palace statement was released.
Sources told the Mail on Sunday that Princess Anne's daughter, and Eugenie's cousin, was the one who "persuaded" Eugenie to write to the King.
The princess reportedly did so through an Easter card "accompanied by a carefully written letter sent to her uncle".
The source said: "She and Jack were quite surprised by the warmth of the Palace response.
"The couple had feared a frostier reception and had been contemplating making a media announcement of their own without the Palace being involved, but the King made contact and asked his officials to make a formal announcement."
According to reports, the official announcement about Eugenie's pregnancy was "purposefully" delayed to ensure it didn't overshadow the King and Queen's history visit to the US and Bermuda.
Buckingham Palace's statement read: "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 five) and Ernest (aged two) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family.
"His Majesty The King has been informed and is delighted with the news."
The baby, who will not be an HRH, will be born 15th in line to the throne, with their great uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, moving down to 16th place.
He or she will also be the 15th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the third to be born since her death in 2022.
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