Princess Eugenie has received a message from her former private secretary, Libby Horsley.
Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, revealed on Tuesday that they had welcomed a baby girl, their third child together and first daughter.
Libby Horsley, who serves as Chief of Staff at The Royal Household, offered her congratulations beneath Eugenie’s Instagram post, leaving three red heart emojis.
Ms Horsley has a longstanding professional connection to both York sisters, having served as Assistant Private Secretary to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie between 2020 and 2024 before moving into her current position.
The emoji response was among several notable comments from figures connected to the Royal Family following the announcement.
Princess Beatrice’s husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, responded to the arrival of his new niece by posting three pink heart emojis beneath the official Royal Family Instagram announcement of the birth.
The property developer chose to mark the occasion on the institution’s account rather than on Princess Eugenie’s own social media page, where he has not left a like or comment at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, Flora Vesterberg, a relative of the Royal Family through her grandmother, Princess Alexandra, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, left a message beneath Eugenie’s personal Instagram post.
Libby Horsley pictured at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee
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INSTAGRAM/@LIBBYHORSLEY_
“Congratulations! Wonderful news for you all. Our daughters are only a few weeks apart xx,” she wrote.
Mrs Vesterberg and her husband Timothy Vesterberg, a Swedish financier, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Isabel Marina Vesterberg, on the morning of July 8. She shared the news on Instagram at the time, stating that the baby had “arrived safely.”
The proximity of the two births means the newest Brooksbank daughter and Isabel Marina are separated by less than a month in age.
Eugenie shared the happy news on Instagram on Tuesday evening, writing: “Jack and I are so excited to announce Baby Girl Brooksbank!! We are beyond in love with our girlie.”
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The baby is the couple’s first daughter, joining older brothers August, born in February 2021, and Ernest, born in June 2023.
The Royal Family’s official account on X confirmed the news, stating: “Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family were delighted to be informed of the news.”
Eugenie, who is 12th in line to the throne, married Mr Brooksbank, a marketing executive, at Windsor Castle in 2018.
The princess is the younger daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his former wife Sarah Ferguson.
Libby Horsley left a message beneath Eugenie’s personal Instagram post
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INSTAGRAM/@PRINCESSEUGENIEHer father was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, having been stripped of his titles and public royal role over his association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He was released under investigation that evening and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Eugenie and her sister Beatrice last officially appeared alongside senior royals at their cousin Peter Phillips’s wedding in June.