Many families note that the third child plays by different rules, and while she may be only days old, it seems Princess Eugenie’s newborn daughter is already carving her own path.

Unlike her older brothers, August, 5, and Ernest, 3, who were both born at London’s Portland Hospital, the latest addition to the family was born at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal.

Eugenie, with husband Jack Brooksbank, announced the birth of their daughter in a post on Instagram: “Jack and I are so excited to announce Baby Girl Brooksbank!! We are beyond in love with our ‌girlie.”

A niece of King Charles, Eugenie is 12th in line to the British throne. Her daughter is 15th, behind older brothers August and Ernest.

The birth also pushes Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth, down to the 16th spot.

The baby, whose name is yet to be announced, was born weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces (3 kilograms), according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.

Like her brothers – whom Eugenie previously shared a photo of looking at her baby scans – they newest family member will not receive the title of Her Royal Highness, as the children of Princess Eugenie are not automatically entitled to royal titles.

Why Portugal is ‘the dream’

Almost every modern royal has chosen a British hospital for their birth – so why did Eugenie break with tradition?

The princess and Brooksbank have divided their time between Portugal and the UK since 2022, after Brooksbank took on a role with property developer Mike Meldman, a business partner of George Clooney.

Eugenie continues to work as a director at London art gallery Hauser & Wirth.

 

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The family are known to split their time between their home in the luxurious CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club on the Portuguese coast, an hour south of Lisbon, and Ivy Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace.

Living in Portugal has also offered the couple some respite from the scrutiny surrounding Eugenie’s parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, who have both been implicated in the Epstein Files. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February by police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been stripped of all his titles, his mansion and any public involvement with the family.

Princess Eugenie has previously spoken about the appeal of life in Portugal, saying she enjoys the freedom of being able to go about everyday life without attracting attention.

In a 2023 podcast, she described the country as “the dream”.

“I can go to the supermarket in my exercise gear and my hair piled on my head and not mind. Not care. No one cares,” she said.

Other royal Portugal fans include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who spent time there with their two children last month during their trip to Europe.

They are thought to maintain a vacation home in the country.

Not the first royal born overseas

While the birth in Portugal may have surprised royal watchers, Eugenie’s daughter isn’t the first member of the royal family to be born outside of Britain.

Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Princess Lilibet, was born in California in 2021 after the couple relocated to the US.

Maud Windsor, the granddaughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, was born in Los Angeles in 2013, while the late Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu.

Is the new royal family member Portuguese?

Despite being born in Lisbon, Eugenie’s daughter is not automatically guaranteed Portuguese citizenship.

Under Portuguese law, babies born there generally need at least one parent who has legally lived in the country for three consecutive years to qualify.