A name that speaks volumes
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have announced the birth of their daughter, Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank, born on August 3. The little girl's name is steeped in family tributes—but, as New Idea reports, one name was notably absent: Sarah, the first name of her own mother, Sarah Ferguson.
According to New Idea's royal insider, the baby's name includes "Adelaide" because it holds special meaning for Eugenie, who wore Queen Adelaide's diamond earrings as hair ornaments at her wedding. "Annina" is in honor of Eugenie's best friend—and possibly godmother to Adelaide—the Countess Annina Bruges von Pfuel, a Bavarian costume and set designer whose wedding Eugenie attended in 2024. "Of course Elizabeth was always going to be one of her baby girl's names, but the glaring omissions are, of course, 'Sarah' or 'Margaret'," the insider said.
A family rift in the open
The naming omission appears to deepen a growing rift between Ferguson and her daughters. New Idea's source explained that Ferguson had tried "not to be upset when Beatrice didn't use either of her names for her two girls" — a reference to Princess Beatrice's daughters, Sienna and Athena — "but that was before she was removed from the public eye." The source describes the situation starkly: "She wouldn't dare to even expect Eugenie to honor her in this way, not now, not after the de facto.”
The same report notes that Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, have publicly distanced themselves from their parents, Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following their royal exile due to their connections to the late sex offender and fugitive Jeffrey Epstein. This family history, including Ferguson's status as a grandmother, has been widely reported by both New Idea and The News International.
The News International's coverage quotes royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who said; “This clearly illustrates how the wheel of fortune has turned. Anyone who remembers the bizarre Royal Family Ball the York family posed for to commemorate Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday knows how the Yorks used to enjoy showing off.” He added that appearances are “absolutely pivotal” for a family such as this, deducing the cautiousness and lack of nod given to Ferguson regarding the youngest Brooksbank child's name most likely stems from past scandal.
The name of Ferguson, a story for many family members, is one of several ways the rift has played out. The family had previously used a name to honor Ferguson's own family: her son Ernest has the middle name Ronald, after Sarah's father, Major Ronald Ferguson.
A quiet grandmother
One striking aspect of the baby's arrival, reported by The News, is that Ferguson has not shared a public tribute on Instagram, while the King—the girl's great-grandfather—has done so. This is attributed to her continuing to lie low following her connection to Epstein. Both outlets frame this as part of a wider shift in Ferguson's position within the royal orbit.
A private life across borders
New Idea goes a step further, describing Ferguson's current circumstances: she is living in a luxury chalet in Regina, Switzerland, while Eugenie and Jack live in Portugal. The outlet also reports that Ferguson has been barred from posting about her grandchildren on social media, and that Eugenie refused to allow her mother to move in with her after her parents' recent expulsion from Royal Lodge. These details, however, are attributed to a single unnamed insider, and have not been the focus of The News reporting.
A hesitation of hurt
For those who have followed the York family's public trajectory, the choice of names is poignant. In New The source's summary for the name for Sarah Ferguson is blunt: "It doesn't make it any easier, knowing she'll be lucky if she ever gets to spend time with her new granddaughter."
Whether this is a permanent shift remains to be seen, but for now the arrival of Adelaide Elizabeth Annina marks not only a new branch of the family but also, in the eyes of many observers, a clear statement about where loyalties lie.