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Eugenie and Jack, who have just celebrated their second wedding anniversary on October 12, announced their baby news with a cute Instagram post. The picture featured photos of the expectant parents holding a pair of baby bear slippers. The official statement from Buckingham Palace read: “Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021.

“The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are delighted with the news.”

The royal baby will be 11th in line to the throne when they are born, and will be the ninth great-grandchild of the Queen and Prince Philip.

But recent developments mean Princess Eugenie’s pregnancy will be very different to the Duchess of Sussex’s.

While most mums-to-be would be spending the months leading up to the birth catching up with friends and family before the baby arrives, Eugenie won’t be able to do so.

The Princess’ third trimester may be very testing, given the new restrictions announced in London on Thursday, October 15.

The capital faces tier 2 coronavirus measures from Saturday, October 17, which mans households will be banned from mixing indoors.

Eugenie and Jack currently live on the grounds of Kensington Palace in a cottage.

And unless the Princess, whose baby is due early next year, moves into Royal Lodge in Windsor with her parents, Sarah Ferguson and the Duke of York, she won’t be able to see them.

Eugenie and Jack stayed with the Princess’s parents during lockdown before moving back to London this summer, so it’s not a far-fetched idea that they would return to Royal Lodge.

While most mothers can look forward to a baby shower with her closest friends and relatives, Eugenie won’t be able to do so as gatherings indoors are banned.

Meghan Markle, however, had a very different pregnancy experience.

The Duchess of Sussex was able to fly to New York for a baby shower in February 2019 before the arrival of Archie Harrison in May of the same year.

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Eugenie may, instead, have to settle for a virtual baby shower if the restrictions don’t lift in the next few months.

Another blow for Eugenie would be not being able to see her sister during the rest of her pregnancy.

Beatrice lives at St James’s Palace, a short drive from Eugenie’s three-bedroom cottage in Kensington.

Given the new rules, the royal siblings and their parents would only be able to meet outdoors, and would be limited to a group of no more than six.

The UK Government’s official advice for tier 2 lockdowns states: “You must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them.

“This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.

“A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household.

“Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight and visit public places together.”

The guidance adds: “You may continue to see friends and family you do not live with (or have a support bubble with) outside, including in a garden or other outdoor space.

“When you do so, you must not meet in a group of more than six. This limit of six includes children of any age.”

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