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‘Closest of friends’: Inside Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie’s bond … is she his last royal confidante?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might have one last confidante left in the royal family, after their dramatic Megxit. This is how their close relationship with Princess Eugenie has evolved.

Behind-the-scenes footage of Princess Eugenie’s wedding

They are the closest of all the British royal cousins, whose bond runs much deeper than family ties.

Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry were considered the “closest of friends” who used to party together at London nightclubs, and were often spied chatting with each other at official royal family engagements.

Fun, fiercely loyal and brutally honest, Eugenie doesn’t hold back when it comes to her cousin Harry – setting him up with one of her close friends during their party days, and going on secret double dates with Harry’s then-girlfriend, Meghan Markle.

“Eugenie had always been more than just a cousin to Harry. They were also the closest of friends,” bombshell tell-all Finding Freedom stated.

Prince William, Princess Eugenie, Prince Harry, and Princess Beatrice. Picture: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Prince William, Princess Eugenie, Prince Harry, and Princess Beatrice. Picture: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

“Out of all the Queen’s grandchildren, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections.”

“Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest, and great fun. The two had many nights out together in London.”

Such was their social bond beyond the royal fold that Prince Harry, 35, even dated one of Princess Eugenie’s best friends, Cressida Bonas.

And years later, Princess Eugenie, 30, was said to have been the first royal relative that Harry told about his romance with then-Suits star, Meghan.

Royal cousins Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie are the closest of the Queen’s grandchildren. Picture: Getty Images
Royal cousins Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie are the closest of the Queen’s grandchildren. Picture: Getty Images

“Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life,” the biographyFinding Freedom revealed.

“Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends say that she gives great advice and has always been ‘beyond wise’ for her years,” the book’s authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durant wrote.

Prince Harry is still close with his cousin, Princess Eugenie. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry is still close with his cousin, Princess Eugenie. Picture: AFP
Princess Eugenie at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. Picture: Getty Images
Princess Eugenie at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. Picture: Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their star-studded royal wedding in 2018, attended by Princess Eugenie and even Harry’s ex, Cressida Bonas Picture: Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their star-studded royal wedding in 2018, attended by Princess Eugenie and even Harry’s ex, Cressida Bonas Picture: Getty Images

“It’s not surprising, then, that Eugenie was one of the first in the family to know about his relationship with Meghan.

“Although she was the one to introduce Harry to her good friend Cressida (Bonas), she was nothing but encouraging about his new relationship.

“In fact, Eugenie, who’d long wanted to see her cousin settle down and be happy, told friends she loved Meghan and that she was ‘just the tonic’ for him.”

Princess Eugenie and Brooksbank went on double dates with Harry and Meghan in Toronto, including on Halloween in 2016, while their relationship was still a secret.

Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie, pictured at their royal wedding reception in 2018, are close with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Picture: AFP
Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie, pictured at their royal wedding reception in 2018, are close with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still close with Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie despite tension within the royal family. Picture: Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still close with Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie despite tension within the royal family. Picture: Getty Images

Brooksbank was there at the time, on work trip as part of his role as a commercial manager for Casamigos – the $700 million tequila brand founded by George Clooney and Rande Gerber.

“Harry and Meghan had already been out on two double dates with (Eugenie and Jack),” a source said, of the time when Harry and Meghan were dating in secret.

But one memorable night out – a masquerade Halloween ball double-date – ended early for Harry and Meghan, who left the party early after they learnt details about their relationship were about to break in the UK press.

Prince Harry and his former on-off girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, in 2014. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry and his former on-off girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, in 2014. Picture: AFP

EUGENIE SET HARRY UP WITH EX

Long before she supported Prince Harry’s relationship with Meghan, it was Princess Eugenie who introduced Harry to his ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas the former British "it" girl turned actor, in 2012.

The pair went on to see each other, on and off, for two years until 2014, when their split for a final time. It was reported that Cressida, 31, broke Harry’s heart because she didn’t want the “unwanted attention” that marrying a royal would have entailed.

“Cressida had a hard time dealing with the focus of attention being on her all of the time just because she was Prince Harry’s girlfriend — not because she was herself,” a source told People at the time.

Cressida Bonas attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. Picture: Getty Images
Cressida Bonas attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. Picture: Getty Images
Harry’s ex Cressida Bonas, left, also attended her close friend Princess Eugenie’s wedding at Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images
Harry’s ex Cressida Bonas, left, also attended her close friend Princess Eugenie’s wedding at Windsor Castle. Picture: Getty Images
Princess Eugenie and her father, Prince Andrew, during her wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in 2018. Picture: AFP
Princess Eugenie and her father, Prince Andrew, during her wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in 2018. Picture: AFP
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are close with Harry and Meghan. Picture: Getty Images
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are close with Harry and Meghan. Picture: Getty Images

Despite the romantic setups and double dates, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Harry and Eugenie.

At her wedding to James Brooksbank, Eugenie was said to have been less than impressed that Harry used her big day to announce Meghan’s pregnancy.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went on secret double dates with Princess Eugenie and her now-husband Jack Brooksbank. Picture: Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went on secret double dates with Princess Eugenie and her now-husband Jack Brooksbank. Picture: Getty Images

“It did not go down particularly well with Eugenie, who, a source said, told friends she felt the couple should have waited to share the news,” Finding Freedom states, according to People magazine.

Just where Harry and Eugenie’s close cousin bond sits now – given Prince Harry’s Megxit-fuelled relocation to Santa Barbara, California – remains unclear. However, it is understood Princess Eugenie and Brooksbank will visit the couple as soon as travel restrictions are eased.

Meghan and Harry revealed they were expecting their first child at the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank … and it did not go down well. Picture: AFP
Meghan and Harry revealed they were expecting their first child at the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank … and it did not go down well. Picture: AFP
Meghan and Harry at Princess Eugenie’s wedding. Picture: EPA/Will Oliver
Meghan and Harry at Princess Eugenie’s wedding. Picture: EPA/Will Oliver

Originally published as ‘Closest of friends’: Inside Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie’s bond … is she his last royal confidante?

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/closest-of-friends-inside-prince-harry-and-princess-eugenies-bond-is-she-his-last-royal-confidant/news-story/fef5d095b3c76af5bf6b4d47a32bde94