Princess Eugenie was bought an incredible £1.5m gift by the Queen when she was seven but ‘never used it’
Princess Eugenie living in a very swanky home now - and it's not in the UK
PRINCESS Eugenie was once given a lavish £1.5million gift from the Queen despite being seven-years-old – and she’s never used it.
Her Majesty splashed out on the Grade II-listed country estate Birch Hall in 1997 for her granddaughters’ use.
The seven-bedroom Georgian mansion includes some very swanky features, including a heated swimming pool, tennis court and five acres of grounds.
It also boasts a separate two-bedroom cottage for staff accommodation.
The gift was certainly an extravagant gesture, particularly as Princess Eugenie was seven, and Princess Beatrice was nine at the time.
The sisters never got to call Birch Hall home, however, as mum Sarah Ferguson reportedly refused to move in.
This was due to the Duchess of York stating she was not able to afford the maintenance of the historic 1740 Surrey-based property.
Sarah, Beatrice and Eugenie remained living at their family home – with the girls spending their childhood at Sunninghill Park and Royal Lodge in Windsor.
This meant that Birch Hill lay vacant for two years until 1999 when the property was sold for £1.5million.
The estate agents at the time said it was being sold “due to a change of circumstance”, and it was thought the money from the sale would be placed in trust for Eugenie and Beatrice.
It was sold again in 2016 for three times the original price for the very regal £4.2million price tag, and had some swanky additions inside.
This included a tweaked layout with a media and games room, orangery and gym.
Princess Eugenie is now 33 and currently has a jaw-dropping home – and it’s not in the UK.
The King’s niece – along with husband Jack Brooksbank and their kids – is now living in a luxury golf and ocean club in Portugal.
Meanwhile, since their marriage in 2020, Princess Beatrice, 35, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, have lived in a four-bed apartment in St James’s Palace, with two-year-old daughter Sienna and Edoardo’s older child, Wolfie.
The royal couple purchased a sprawling farmhouse in the Cotswolds for £3.5million two years ago, which they have been renovating since.
Princess Eugenie, Jack, August, two, and baby Ernest are said to be splitting their time between living at the and their life back in the UK.
The reason for the move is Jack’s job, as he is doing marketing, sales and promotion for property entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who is managing the 300-home development there.
According to its website, CostaTerra “offers a wide range of real estate options, from large estate homesites to contemporary coastal villas, turnkey club residences and custom luxury homes”.
And the club – dubbed the “Hamptons of Western Europe” – is certainly fit for royalty, boasting luxury amenities such as an 18-hole golf course, spa and equestrian centre.
If that wasn’t enough, there is also private surf lessons, paddleboarding and catamaran trips where you go dolphin-watching.
EUGENIE AND BEATRICE'S CLOSE BOND
Over the years, the Queen‘s granddaughters have often spoken about their incredible bond and have previously described themselves as “each other’s rocks.”
Princess Beatrice was the first child born to the Duke and Duchess of York – Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson – back on August 8, 1988.
The Duchess gave birth at London’s Portland Hospital for Women and Children, and Beatrice’s full name was announced as Beatrice Elizabeth Mary almost two weeks later.
The couple – who divorced in 1996 – then welcomed Princess Eugenie, whose full name is Eugenie Victoria Helena, on March 23, 1990.
As a result of their close bond, it’s no surprise that back in 2018, as Eugenie made her way down to Windsor Castle for her royal nuptials, her maid of honour Beatrice was firmly by her side.
When asked about her maid of honour by , Princess Eugenie said, “I can’t think of anyone I’d want by my side other than her.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to have stayed at the resort and visited Eugenie after the Invictus Games.
The Princess struck up a friendship with Meghan before the Sussexes began dating and the trio are believed to keep in regular contact.
Eugenie, who is the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, is said to be continuing her work for London art gallery Hauser & Wirth on a hybrid basis.
When they are in the UK they will be staying at Kensington Palace, with the royal recently revealing on the Table Manners podcast the process of getting a Deliveroo takeaway inside.
