Princess Eugenie’s Secret Reason For Leaving London Revealed As Royal Builds A New Life In Portugal

Princess Eugenie has opened up about the real reason she and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, decided to leave London behind and create a quieter family life in Portugal — a decision that has surprised many royal watchers.

The move has gained fresh attention after the couple welcomed their third child, a baby girl, in Lisbon earlier this week.

The princess shared the happy news on social media, posting a sweet photo of her newborn daughter wearing a pastel pink babygrow and a cute hat decorated with a butterfly pattern.

According to the announcement, Eugenie gave birth at a hospital in Lisbon, close to the family’s current home in Portugal. The baby girl was born weighing 6lb 9oz, and both mother and daughter are said to be doing well.

The birth marks a rare moment for the Royal Family, as royal babies are traditionally born in the UK. Eugenie’s two older children, August, five, and Ernest, three, were both born at the Portland Hospital in London.

But several years before welcoming her daughter, Eugenie and Jack made a major lifestyle change when they relocated to Portugal in 2022 with their sons.

Leaving behind their London base and royal surroundings was not an easy decision, but for Eugenie, it represented a long-held dream of creating a more private and relaxed life for her family.

Speaking on the podcast Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware, Eugenie explained why Portugal had become so special to her.

“Portugal is the dream because I can go to the supermarket in my exercise gear and my hair piled on my head and not mind. Not care. No one cares,” she said.

For a member of the Royal Family, that sense of freedom and normality was something rare.

Away from the intense public attention surrounding royal life, Eugenie and Jack have embraced a slower pace in the Algarve, where they enjoy the beaches, ocean, and outdoor lifestyle with their children.

Eugenie previously revealed that her sons love the natural beauty of Portugal, especially the sea.

“They love swimming. The sea in Portugal is a little bit rougher. So we’ve got our feet in, but Augie is a fish. He literally loves it, and we have whales and dolphins all across the walls,” she said.

The family now splits their time between Portugal and the UK.

Their Portuguese home, reportedly worth around £3.6 million, provides a private retreat away from the spotlight, while they still maintain links to London through their royal connections.

Jack Brooksbank has also developed a professional connection in Portugal. After previously working as a brand ambassador for Casamigos, the tequila company founded by George Clooney and Rande Gerber, Jack now works for luxury property developers Discovery Land Company.

The company operates exclusive resorts around the world, including the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club near the couple’s home in Comporta.

Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie continues her own career as a director at the London art gallery Hauser & Wirth.

Despite their new life abroad, the couple have not completely stepped away from the UK. When returning to London, the family spends time at Nottingham Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate — a home with its own royal history.

The cottage was previously occupied by Prince Harry, who lived there from 2013 until his move to Windsor after marrying Meghan Markle in 2018. It was also the place where Harry proposed to Meghan.

Eugenie’s decision to embrace life in Portugal highlights a changing approach among younger royals, who are increasingly trying to balance tradition with personal happiness and family privacy.

For Princess Eugenie, the move was not about leaving royal life behind — but about finding a place where she could finally experience a more ordinary life away from the constant attention of the public eye.