The divorced couple have largely retreated from public view
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson are "not expected" to be included in the upcoming royal baby photograph for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, a royal commentator has predicted.
Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank are preparing to welcome their third child in the coming weeks, having announced the pregnancy back in May with a due date set for this summer.
The couple shared the happy news through a charming photograph showing their two boys, August, five, and Ernest, two, gazing at an ultrasound image of their future sibling.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles had been informed and was thrilled by the announcement.
Both youngsters are said to be eagerly anticipating the arrival of another brother or sister to complete their growing family.
However, this joyful period comes against a backdrop of family turmoil for the princess.
Her parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, have been living in self-imposed exile since last October, when they were stripped of their royal titles and removed from Royal Lodge by King Charles amid the ongoing Epstein scandal.
The divorced couple have strenuously denied any wrongdoing but have largely retreated from public view as a police investigation into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor continues following his arrest in February.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes both grandparents will naturally be eager to meet the new arrival and offer support to Eugenie, though whether this will happen remains uncertain.
"Well, who wouldn't want to be involved in the birth and first few days in the life of a new grandchild?" Ms Bond told the Mirror.
"It's only natural that Fergie, and Andrew too, would want to meet the new arrival and give any support they can to Eugenie."
While the couple are expected to release a photograph of their newborn in due course, Ms Bond does not anticipate either Mr Mountbatten-Windsor or Ms Ferguson appearing in any official images, saying: "I think the couple will issue a photo of the new arrival in the fullness of time, but I certainly don’t expect to see either Andrew or Sarah included in that photo."
She noted that Ms Ferguson has previously been a devoted grandmother to her five grandchildren from both Eugenie and Beatrice, including the latter's stepson Wolfie, adding she would likely be "heartbroken" if excluded from this milestone.
Ms Bond suggested that Eugenie, who now spends much of her time in Portugal, will ultimately decide whether her parents can be part of this new chapter.
"I think whatever relationship Eugenie now has with her parents, it will remain private and extremely discreet. And that's probably for the best all round," she explained.
