Princess Eugenie’s new mum tribe! Baby boom in royal’s well-heeled circle means plenty of advice

She gave birth to her first child two months ago, but it appears Princess Eugenie won’t be learning the ropes alone as she’s surrounded by friends who have recently given birth or are pregnant.

The Queen’s granddaughter, 31, welcomed her son August on February 9 with husband Jack Brooksbank – but she’s not the only one in her well-heeled circle who is enjoying or expecting little bundles of joy this year.

BFF Ellie Goulding, 34, and her husband Caspar Jopling are set to become parents together for the first time later this month, while Molly Whitehall, a school friend of Eugenie’s from Malborough College, gave birth to her daughter Peggy on March 18.

Elsewhere, Meghan Markle, who is said to have ‘bonded’ with the princess over their pregnancies, is expecting a daughter with Prince Harry this summer, and the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister Pippa Middleton, who attended Eugenie’s wedding and is a ‘close friend’, welcomed Grace Elizabeth Jane Matthews on March 15.

And while the new mothers and parents-to-be in Eugenie’s circle will surely offer plenty of advice to the princess, it appears the royal is already a font of knowledge for her friends. 

Pop sensation Ellie revealed this weekend how her fellow first-time mother Eugenie has helped her get ready for motherhood, explaining that she ‘gave her excellent advice like where to find the best pregnancy pillows to get a good night’s sleep.’

Elsewhere, it was divulged that a personalised cardigan recently worn by August has already become a must-have amongst the royal’s friends – with the fashion designer claiming an order has been made to be gifted to Molly Whitehall. 

Here, FEMAIL reveals the host of women in Eugenie’s friendship circle that are likely to all be sharing their top tips on motherhood with the royal, and vice versa… 

Ellie Goulding – Due later this month

Ellie Goulding and Princess Eugenie are believed to have grown a close friendship after years of partying, basket ball games, and holidays together, having been introduced at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011.

The pair have been snapped courtside at the New York Knicks, partying at London’s Chiltern Firehouse and on group trips abroad.

In 2019, they went on holiday to Jordan, where they were joined by model Karlie Kloss, Eugenie’s sister Princess Beatrice and designer Misha Nonoo, also a friend of Meghan Markle.

And as recently as last July, the BFFs were joined by their husbands as they stepped out for dinner to celebrate the end of England’s first lockdown. 

The friends were also closely involved with one another’s weddings, with Eugenie performing a reading for Caspar and Ellie, while the pop star sang at the royal’s reception.

Ellie, who kept her pregnancy under wraps for the first 30 weeks, is set to become a mother for the first time later this month as she’s expecting a baby with husband Caspar Jopling. 

Speaking to The Telegraph on Saturday, the singer revealed that Eugenie, alongside pal and first time mother Katy Perry, ‘gave her excellent advice like where to find the best pregnancy pillows to get a good night’s sleep.’

Speaking about Eugenie, the mother-to-be said: ‘She’s been a great friend throughout this. We’ve talked a lot about pregnancy and she’s been inspirational because she just takes everything in her stride.’

Molly Whitehall – Gave birth on March 18

Comedian Jack Whitehall’s sister Molly Whitehall announced on her Instagram account that she had welcomed a baby girl, called Peggy, on March 18 with her husband Toby Wilkinson, who she married in February 2020.

And it appears Princess Eugenie, a school friend of Molly’s from Malborough College, is already giving fashion inspiration to the new mother.

It was revealed that a personalised cardigan recently worn by August in a snap shared to his mother’s Instagram account, has already become a must-have amongst the royal’s friends. 

Charlene Holden of Uncool Wool, who embroidered the personalised outfit for the newborn, told HELLO! that she’s taken orders that have been sent to some of the princess’ pals as gifts, including fellow new mother Molly.

The owner, from Horsforth, West Yorkshire, started Etsy shop Uncool Wool in 2020, selling hand knitted jumpers and cardigans for children, costing between £18 to £35.

Baby August sported a personalised cardigan from her rage in a picture shared by his mother for her 31st birthday. 

The entrepreneur was asked to make a sweater embroidered with the name August at the back, but admitted she had no idea it was for a royal until she saw the picture of Eugenie on Instagram. 

Molly’s family have been close to the Yorks for years, and the socialite previously posted a picture with Eugenie in an image snapped by her mother Hilary, where she thanked Sarah Ferguson for her help with celebrating International Day of the Girl. 

Meghan Markle – Due this summer

Meghan Markle, who welcomed Archie Harrison, in May 2019, announced she was pregnant with her second child around the same time Princess Eugenie welcomed her son August in February 2021 with husband Jack. 

Prince Harry, now based in America with his family, later revealed that wife Meghan is expecting a little girl this summer during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they laid bare the extent of their rift with the Royal Family.

It is thought Eugenie is the ‘only member’ of the Firm who the Duchess of Sussex, 39, is still close to, a royal insider recently claimed.

Meghan and the Queen’s granddaughter reportedly maintain a close relationship despite the duchess and Prince Harry’s decision to step back as senior royals – and have bonded over their recent pregnancy joy, according to a source.  

Speaking to Us Weekly, an insider said: ‘Eugenie is really the only member of the royal family that Meghan is still close to.’

The source went on to say that they ‘are sort of an unlikely pair, but remain in contact’, adding that the pair ‘bonded’ over their pregnancies.

Along with their baby joy, the pair also both tied the knot in 2018 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor castle – just five months apart. 

The close friendship may not come as a surprise because according to Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie had always had a strong bond.

The authors wrote: ‘Out of all the queen’s grandchildren, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry have one of the most natural connections. Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest and great fun.’

Meanwhile, they also detailed how Prince Harry even confided in his cousin early on in his relationship with Meghan.

The authors wrote: ‘Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life. Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends said that she gives great advice and has always been “beyond wise” for her years.’

As such, it’s thought Prince Harry and Meghan, and Princess Eugenie and Jack, might divulge their top parenthood tips to one another.

Pippa Middleton – Gave birth on March 15

She’s the younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge and was a ubiquitous fixture on the social circuit during Eugenie and her sister Princess Beatrice’s heydays, so it’s no surprise Pippa Middleton is classed as a close friend of the royal.    

Eugenie and Jack attended Pippa’s intimate wedding to her banker husband James Matthews in Berkshire in May 2017, while the bride and groom were seen at the princess’ ceremony the following year.

But while Pippa and Eugenie enjoyed several night outs together, appearing at the same charity functions and fashion shows, their meet ups are now more likely to be play dates with their children.

Mother-of-two Pippa, 37, welcomed her second child Grace Elizabeth Jane with husband James earlier this month. The parents also share two-year-old son Arthur.

Grace’s middle names – Elizabeth and Jane – are a nod to her grandmothers, Carole Elizabeth Middleton and Jane Matthews, while Elizabeth might also be a subtle acknowledgement of the family’s royal ties.

Rumours of Pippa’s pregnancy first swirled shortly before Christmas when Page Six reported the couple were expecting another baby. 

A source close to the Middleton family told Page Six in December Kate’s sister was expecting, saying: ‘Pippa and James are thrilled, it’s fantastic news amid a difficult year. The entire family is delighted.’

Pippa has never commented on her pregnancy and prefers to keep a low public profile.

Zara Tindall – Welcome a son on March 21

Eugenie and her cousin Zara Tindall are often seen chatting and enjoying each others company at family events, including the annual Royal Ascot meet ups and Trooping of the Colour.

Zara’s eldest daughter with her former rugby star husband Mike Tindall, Mia, was even one of Eugenie’s flower girls during her 2018 wedding in Windsor. 

As such it’s likely that mother-of-three Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne, will share some advice with her cousin if called upon.

Just a month after the birth of Eugenie’s baby August, Zara gave birth to her son unexpectedly on the bathroom floor of her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire.

Lucas Philip Tindall – Zara’s third child – arrived on March 21, with proud father Mike Tindall revealing how the baby’s speedy delivery caught them off guard, and left him rushing to put down a gym mat and towels because there was not enough time to get to hospital.  

The Tindalls’ new arrival, who is a member of the royal family but not an HRH, is thought to be the first royal baby to be born at home for nearly 60 years.

The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret had her daughter Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, now Lady Sarah Chatto, at home in Kensington Palace in May 1964, a few weeks after the Queen had Prince Edward, now the Earl of Wessex, at Buckingham Palace.