Princess Eugenie’s youngest son Ernest, who is celebrating his second birthday today, shares a sad connection to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter Lilibet.
Eugenie, 35, and her husband Jack Brooksbank, 39, welcomed Ernest in 2023, two years after having their eldest son August.
But little Ernest shares a poignant connection with another young member of the royal family.
Princess Eugenie’s son Ernest never got to meet Prince Philip
Ernest was born on May 30, 2023. Meanwhile, Princess Lilibet – Harry and Meghan’s youngest child – was born on June 4, 2021.
Both of the young royals never got to meet their great-grandfather Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9 in 2021 at the age of 99.
It was just a few months before Lilibet was born.
Ernest’s older brother August Brooksbank was born a couple of months before Philip’s death. August was born on February 9, 2021.
Ernest also never got to meet the late Queen Elizabeth II – his great-grandmother – as she died in September 2022, months before his birth.
Meanwhile, Eugenie’s older sister Princess Beatrice’s daughters Sienna, three, and Athena, born in January 2025, also never got to meet Prince Philip.
Princess Eugenie’s tributes with her children’s names
Eugenie paid tribute to her late grandfather Prince Philip with her son August’s name. His full name is August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.
With Ernest’s name, Eugenie paid tribute to some other family members. She explained on Instagram: “He is named after his great-great-great Grandfather, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald. Augie is loving being a big brother already.”
Ronald is the father of Eugenie’s mother Sarah Ferguson. He died in 2003. Meanwhile, Grandpa George refers to Jack’s father, George Brooksbank.
Princess Beatrice paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II with her daughters’ names. Her eldest’s full name is Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi.
Meanwhile, when Athena was born in January, her full name was revealed as Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle honoured Queen Elizabeth II with baby name
When their daughter Princess Lilibet was born in June 2021, Harry and Meghan paid tribute to his grandmother with her name.
Lilibet was Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood nickname.
The decision did spark some controversy as reports claimed the couple hadn’t got permission from the queen to use the name.
However, at the time, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan clarified in a statement: “The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement. In fact, his grandmother was the first family member he called. During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”
