Inside Princess Eugenie’s secret life in Portugal | Royal | News

Princess Eugenie’s living situation came into focus again this month after an investigation revealed she had not paid rent for the royal home in London. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson’s daughter, who is currently expecting her third child, divides her time between England and Portugal due to her husband’s work. Jack Brooksbank has accepted a job as marketing manager at Discovery Land Company in Portugal in 2022.

The company operates luxury resorts around the world, including the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club in Comporta, where Jack and Eugenie live. Eugenie previously told the Table Manners podcast in 2023 about living in Portugal: “That’s why Portugal is like a dream because I can go to the supermarket in my workout clothes and my hair is up on my head and I don’t mind. I don’t care. Nobody cares.”

A year later, in 2024, Eugenie announced that their son loved living in Portugal. He said hello! magazine: “They love swimming. The sea is a little wavier in Portugal.

“So we put our foot down, but Augie is a fish. He literally loves it and we have whales and dolphins all over our walls.”

The Princess and her family use the three-bedroom Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace when they are in the UK.

But a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) sparked public outrage after it was revealed that neither Eugenie nor her sister Princess Beatrice, who was staying in a flat at St James’s Palace, were paying rent.

Although the sisters’ main residences are elsewhere and they do not serve as royalty, King Charles foots the bill entirely from private income he receives from the Duchy of Lancaster through the Privy Purse.

The investigation found that adjusted rents were based on outdated market valuations in 2018 and 2020 rather than consistent current year calculations, prompting public outcry.

Now reports claim that although the King is very fond of his nephews, his son and heir Prince William may take a tougher approach when he becomes king.

Chris Riches of the Daily Express said: “Prince William has a big decision to make about who he wants in his future royal squad and whether the sisters will appear.”

Despite the news, the York sisters put on a brave face, sporting a new look alongside the rest of the Royal Family in the Cotswolds last Saturday for Peter Phillips’ wedding to Harriet.

The Prince of Wales was seen greeting them warmly, as were other royals.