Just In: Fergie’s “Shocking Demand” Sparks Fresh Family Tensions as Claims Emerge That Princess Eugenie May Be Distancing Herself From…

Just In: Fergie’s “Shocking Demand” Sparks Fresh Family Tensions as Claims Emerge That Princess Eugenie May Be Distancing Herself From Her Mother

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding her parents, Princess Eugenie is a new mom again!

Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, welcomed their daughter, Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank, in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 3, 2026.

Sources said that Eugenie’s father, former Prince Andrew, will not meet Adelaide in person. However, her mother, Sarah Ferguson, reportedly flew to Portugal to meet her newborn granddaughter and support Eugenie during this time. Fergie is said to be staying with the family of five at their luxurious villa and is hoping to make it her permanent residence.

Sarah would love to be given the keys,” an insider told Closer. “It’s a beautiful place, and Eugenie and Jack aren’t there year-round. In her view, she could lovingly maintain it when they’re away and then be grandma on call when they’re in town.”

The source added, “She adores her grandchildren, and now that there’s a new baby, she says there’s even more reason for her to be there to help and dote on them.”

On a 2023 episode of the Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast, Eugenie gushed about living in Portugal. She emphasized the sense of anonymity, explaining, “Portugal is the dream because I can go to the supermarket in my exercise gear and my hair piled on my head and not mind. No one cares.”

Fergie has also been seeking privacy, especially after renewed scrutiny following her and Andrew’s close friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This renewed attention led to their eviction from the Royal Lodge, forcing Fergie to take refuge in the Austrian Alps for several months. Now, it appears she’s looking to lay low in Portugal.

Insiders told Closer that Fergie believes she “has the right” to ask Eugenie for help and to stay in her home. “She could reinvent herself there and enjoy a quieter way of life, away from the public eye, the paparazzi and all the scrutiny,” one source said.

“Sarah sees this as a win-win because she can help with the children, so she doesn’t see this as her being an imposition,” the insider continued. “And even if she is asking for her, she feels it’s only right to expect that kind of support from her daughter.”

As of now, Eugenie is conflicted. She doesn’t want to upset Fergie, but she also doesn’t want to disappoint her husband, who allegedly doesn’t want to be associated with his in-laws.

“Eugenie certainly isn’t dumping her mother, but having her move in full time is a lot more complicated than Sarah seems to want to acknowledge,” the source explained. “Even if Eugenie wanted to hand her mother the keys, she also has Jack in her ear. By all accounts, he’s been far more patient and accommodating than Beatrice’s husband [Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi] has been with Sarah, but there are still limits. He’s sympathetic and isn’t suggesting they turn their backs, but having Sarah effectively move in is a whole different matter.’

They noted, “Jack accepts that she will visit from time to time, but giving her the keys to live there full time is a step too far. It’s not just the potential for more damage to their reputations and their standing within the family; they’re also busy with a young baby, they want to bond as a family unit, they need time on their own without Sarah hovering.”

“It’s not that Jack wants to keep her away from the grandchildren; he just feels the visits need to happen quietly and in a controlled way that puts everyone’s interests first. He’s very conscious of avoiding any further controversy and, as difficult as it is, Eugenie has to think that way as well; life as they know it is on the line.”

Additionally, sources suggested that “any show of support” for Fergie will “likely have consequences for Eugenie” and her family.

“She has to be very conscious of how it will play with the public, but also potentially with William and maybe even the King,” an insider claimed. “As it stands, they need to be seen to be keeping their distance, and even if Sarah does everything she can to stay out of sight, eventually word will spread that she’s moved in with them. She’d be tracked down, the property would become a zoo, and it would inevitably create more headaches with the Palace.”