Princess Eugenie's decisive move for daughter sets new precedent

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s daughter may have already marked an achievement in the royal family just her arrival into the world.

King Charles’s niece welcomed her first daughter – third child – on Monday at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, as Buckingham Palace issued the announcement the next day. The monarch was “delighted” by the news.

The name of the new-born is yet to be revealed as the young parents revel in the new change in their lives. However, the baby girl, who is the 15th in line to the throne, may be the first ever member of the royal family to be Portuguese, a major break in tradition.

Eugenie and Jack, who split their time between England and Portugal, have a residence in Lisbon. It is understood that the couple decided to have their baby away from the spotlight as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson scandals continue to cause stress.

The York family have typically opted for the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in London, but this was a big change in light of the circumstances.

Both August, five, and Ernest, three, were born at Portland in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

Whether the new royal baby automatically holds the Portuguese citizenship, there are some rules in place. One thing is confirmed that the newborn is British by descent as both her parents, regardless of being born abroad.

Although, to be a Portuguese citizen, the parents must meet the legal residency duration requirement of five years at the time of the baby’s birth.