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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Princess Eugenie's husband's nan's cutting response after they announced engagement

Exactly four years ago today, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank announced to the world that they were to marry.

The happy couple gave a TV interview where they revealed that Jack got down on one knee and popped the question with a £100,000 pink padparadscha sapphire engagement ring.

It came after the pair had been dating for years after meeting in Verbier, with them becoming engaged during a trip to Nicaragua.

During the TV interview, Eugenie, who's 12th in line to the throne revealed her parents the Duke and Duchess of York spoke of their happiness and she revealed her grandmother the Queen had "wished us well".

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank announce their engagement (Getty Images)
The couple became engaged after several years of dating (PA)

But one family member who had more of an unusual response when asked about their upcoming nuptials three years ago was Jack's nan Joanna Newton.

Speaking to the Daily Mail at the time, the then 91-year-old spoke of her happiness for the couple - but in a cutting remark called Jack "not the most intelligent" and "ordinary".

She said: "I never thought he would get married to a Royal. He’s a charming boy and all that but not the most intelligent and I would never have thought this would happen.

Eugenie and Jack married at St George's Chapel in Windsor in 2018 (Getty Images)

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"I would call him ordinary, I wouldn’t say there is anything special about him, he’s a good-looking, nice chap and I think it says a lot about Eugenie that it’s him she wants and it’s lovely."

Jack was educated at Stowe private school in Buckinghamshire and went straight into a career in hospitality.

He worked at London nightspots Mahiki and Peyote, before landing a job at Chelsea’s Tonteria with the help of Guy Pelly - businessman and close personal friend of Princes William and Harry.

Eugenie with her husband Jack Brooksbank (Getty Images Europe)

Now he's also been the European brand director of Casamigos Tequila, which is owned by Hollywood actor George Clooney.

Following his engagement to Eugenie, the couple got married in October 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor with guests including the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and celebrities including Robbie Williams and Ellie Goulding.

Last year, the pair welcomed their first child - a son called August Philip Brooksbank - whose middle name pays tribute to his late great grandfather Prince Philip.

In a documentary last year, Eugenie revealed August got to meet Philip shortly before his death in April.

Holding back the tears, Eugenie explained: "We named August, August Philip because grandpa has been such a huge, inspiring character in my life.

"I brought little August to come and meet him and told him that we had named him after him and it was such a lovely moment.

"We were very lucky to do that."

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