Current title and style
Princess Eugenie of York remains a princess by birth and marriage. She is a member of the British royal family, styled as Her Royal Highness The Princess Eugenie. Her title was not lost through marriage, though her style and working role differ from senior royals. This explainer clarifies her status, style, and duties today.
Her birth and original title
Born 23 March 1990 by caesarean section at Portland Hospital in London, Princess Eugenie is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson. She was styled at birth as Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York and remained a working royal during her earlier years, sharing public duties with her sister, Princess Beatrice.
Key milestones in her public role
- 1990: Born with the title and style of a female-line royal grandchild.
- 2018: Married Jack Brooksbank, retaining her title and HRH style.
- 2020: Relocated to the United States, reducing visible public engagements in the U.K.
Marriage and title retention
Like other senior working royals, Eugenie’s marriage did not automatically change her name or title. She married Jack Brooksbank in 2018 without altering her style. As a male-line descendant in the line of succession born before her father’s marriage to commoner Sarah Ferguson, she holds princess and HRH status. Only children of the sovereign and certain heirs automatically receive HRH at birth; female-line descendants of George V hold courtesy titles if their parents are styled HRH. Eugenie fits this category and kept it upon marriage.
Royal style and HRH usage
Her full style is Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York. She signs documents Eugénie, uses HRH on correspondence, and is formally referenced as HRH The Princess Eugenie. Post-marriage, she and Jack Brooksbank use the surname Brooksbank for personal and some official purposes, while Eugenie retains her HRH style. She is not a working royal in the same intensive sense as the King, Queen Camilla, William or Harry, but she represents the monarchy at selected events and engagements.
Duties, work, and public role
Eugenie’s workload decreased after relocating to New York in 2020, yet she remains publicly engaged through charitable patronage and advocacy. She is a patron or supporter of organizations focused on spinal care, children’s health, arts, and veterans’ causes. She typically attends fewer high-profile national events than senior royals but appears at memorial services, openings, and fundraising events when available. Her role is primarily ceremonial and philanthropic rather than constitutional.
Comparison with other royal females
| Name | Birth Title | Retained HRH after marriage | Working royal intensity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Eugenie | HRH Princess of York | Yes | Reduced/selective | Relocated to US; fewer public engagements |
| Princess Beatrice | HRH Princess of York | Yes | Reduced/selective | Stepped back from major duties; married 2020 |
| Princess Charlotte | HRH Princess of Cambridge | Likely to retain | N/A (child) | Future tone to be set by adulthood and potential marriage |
| Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor | HRH Princess Louise of Wessex | Yes | Low | Terrence and Lady Davina Lewis; minimal public role |
Line of succession and security
Eugenie is 13th in line to the throne as of 2024, behind her cousins and older brother. Her security is coordinated by the Metropolitan Police and royal protection teams, with additional measures when she visits the U.K. She travels with a small security detail, and protocols are adjusted for international residencies. Despite a lower profile, she remains a protected member of the royal family.
Bottom line
Princess Eugenie is still a princess by birth, retains the HRH style, and remains a member of the royal family. Her working profile is lighter than that of senior royals and has reduced since moving to the U.S., but she continues to carry out select official duties and charitable work. Marriage did not remove or diminish her princess status; she remains HRH The Princess Eugenie of York.