Princess Eugenie’s Wedding Plans Were Influenced by Ex-Prince Andrew After Harry and Meghan’s Ceremony
Ex-Prince Andrew Advocated for Princess Eugenie’s Grand Wedding
Former Prince Andrew reportedly championed a lavish royal wedding for his daughter, Princess Eugenie, positioning it to rival the grandeur of Prince Harry’s ceremony to Meghan Markle just months earlier. Sources suggest Andrew was determined to ensure Eugenie received the same level of attention and celebration.
During an interview preceding Eugenie’s wedding, Andrew highlighted that her guest list would surpass that of Harry and Meghan’s nuptials. While the Sussexes hosted around 600 guests at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, Eugenie celebrated with approximately 850 attendees when she wed Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018.
Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, stated, “She’s a granddaughter of the Queen—a princess of the blood. He believed she should get everything.” Andrew’s visible frustration regarding comparisons between Eugenie’s wedding and that of Harry and Meghan fueled his desire for a monumental ceremony.
Eugenie’s wedding indeed received extensive media attention, with Andrew pushing for a full-scale royal celebration complete with security and a public spectacle. "This is not a public wedding, this is meant to be a family wedding," Andrew said to ITV’s This Morning, asserting that the couple had a larger circle of friends necessitating the spacious venue.
Despite differences in guest counts, Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding attracted approximately 1.9 billion viewers, marking it as one of the most-watched events in history.
Adding to Andrew’s history of advocating for royal status, he insisted that both Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, be styled as "Her Royal Highness" at birth, reflecting his dedication to their royal identities. In light of recent events surrounding Andrew, a family friend indicated that both Eugenie and Beatrice are keen to retain their royal status, which is integral to their identity.
