Princess Eugenie reveals she cried at romantic lake-side proposal (and Granny is 'very happy')

Princess Eugenie has described how she was left in tears of happiness after her boyfriend Jack Brooksbank proposed in front of a Nicaraguan volcano. 

In an interview due to be broadcast on The One Show on Monday night, Princess Eugenie said she had been taken "completely" by surprise by the proposal, "even though we'd been together seven years". 

The couple, who announced their engagement via Buckingham Palace on Monday morning, will marry at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in the autumn.

In an interview celebrating their news, Mr Brooksbank described how he had got down on one knee in Nicaragua, against a backdrop of "a beautiful volcano" where "the sun was setting, birds were flying.”

Princess Eugenie said: "The lake was so beautiful. The lake had a special light I’d never seen. I actually said 'this is an incredible moment', and then he popped the question.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, who are engaged
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, who are engaged Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA

“I was over the moon, crying."

Asked about the Queen's reaction to the news, she added: "Granny actually knew right at the beginning. She was one of the very few people right at the beginning.

“We left her this weekend [after a visit to Sandringham], and had a lovely time. She was very happy, as was my grandfather.”

The ring, they said, was designed together, with Mr Brooksbank picking out a padparadscha sapphire before waiting for the Princess to "sign off" the final creation.

He selected the sapphire, he said, because "it changes colour from every different angle that you look of it", reminding him of the "amazing Eugenie". 

On wedding planning, he joked he was "not sure I'll get a word in edgeways", with his fiancee vowing they would "do it together". 

Princess Eugenie said she had not yet decided on the type of dress she wanted, beyond "no meringue shoulders". 

"Planning will start tomorrow, I assume," she said.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank pose in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank pose in the Picture Gallery of Buckingham Palace Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 

Asked by presenter Matt Baker to introduce Mr Brooksbank to the watching public, Princess Eugenie said: "We share the same passion and drive for life. It's nice that we get to share this moment with everyone."

"It's very, very special to be a part of your family now," Mr Brooksbank told his fiancee. "But we're just Jack and Eug, I suppose.

"I love Eugenie so much and we're just really really happy and over the moon for what's to come. Very, very excited to spend a lifetime together."

Asked whether, after a relationship of seven years, she had wondered "what was taking so long" with the proposal, Princess Eugenie joked: "Maybe! No, I knew, I knew."

Buckingham Palace announced the engagement in a statement, saying: "The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr Jack Brooksbank.

The ring, including padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds
The ring, including padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA 

"Her Royal Highness and Mr Brooksbank became engaged in Nicaragua earlier this month.

"The wedding will take place in the Autumn of 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor, with further details to be announced in due course."

As Royal-watchers will note, the venue of the wedding matches the choice made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who will marry at St George’s Chapel on May 19th.

Princess Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank, who have been dating for around seven years, will no doubt enjoy a calmer lead-up to their wedding, with their lower profile affording them more freedom in their planning and suggesting their ceremony will not be televised.

The Duke and Duchess of York at their 1986 wedding
The Duke and Duchess of York at their 1986 wedding Credit: Rex

The celebrations, excluding security, will be paid for privately.

The couple are intending to move into Ivy Cottage, at Kensington Palace, together.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh "are very pleased and wish the couple all the best" following their engagement announcement.

The Duke of York, father of Princess Eugenie, said he was “thrilled”, calling his future son-in-law an “absolutely outstanding young man” who has got to know his daughter “over a number of years”.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attend Goodwood Racecourse, 2015
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attend Goodwood Racecourse, 2015 Credit: Getty

The Duke said attention would turn to planning for the wedding and "getting it all organised" but "we can't fix a date yet, we've got to look at everyone's diaries. It's a bit more complicated than that."

He added: "But today it's their day. I'm just completely overjoyed for them and wish them every happiness."

Mr Brooksbank’s parents, Nicola and George, hailed the news in a statement, saying: "We could not be more delighted with the news of the engagement.

"We are completely over the moon and are very excited for them both."

Sarah, Duchess of York, who sent a series of tweets sharing her pleasure.

 

In formal engagement photographs taken at Buckingham Palace, the Princess is wearing a dress by Erdem, shoes by Jimmy Choo and a ring described as “padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds”.

It closely resembles the ruby engagement ring worn by her mother after Prince Andrew proposed in March 1986.

The couple divorced in 1996, but still live together at Royal Lodge, with the Duchess speaking regularly about their close continuing relationship and mutual focus on their daughters. The wedding announcement styled them the “Duke and Duchess of York”.

The two Royal weddings of 2018 are not without precedent. In 2011, Prince William married the then-Kate Middleton, with Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall tying the knot three months later.

Mr Brooksbank is not expected to be given a new title after the wedding. 

In December 2016, the Duke of York said it was “complete fabrication to suggest I have asked for any future husbands of the Princesses to have titles”. 

 

 

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