How Harry and Meghan’s engagement delayed Eugenie’s wedding plans

PRINCESS Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank had planned to wed more than a year ago, but there was one thing standing in their way.

ON FRIDAY, October 12, Eugenie will be the second royal to walk down the aisle in just a matter of months.

But her wedding has been a long time coming, with a new report claiming Eugenie and fiance Jack Brooksbank’s plans to tie the knot have been delayed by more than a year.

According toVanity Fair, Eugenie was forced to put her plans to wed last year on indefinite hold once rumours began circulating about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle getting engaged in early 2017.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement last November after almost a year of speculation

The reason? Because Harry is ranked ahead of Eugenie in the royal family.

“It’s my understanding that Eugenie and Jack decided some time ago that they wanted to get married, and there was some talk about a wedding in 2017, but they had to wait for Harry to go first,” an anonymous family friend told Vanity Fair.

“The feeling among the Yorks is that she deserves her moment in the spotlight and a big royal wedding with all the frills.”

MORE: Why Eugenie’s wedding will be bigger than Meghan’s

There are no hard feelings between Eugenie and Harry over the delay. Picture: Anwar Hussein

While you might expect the delay would cause friction between the cousins, Eugenie was happy to wait and announced her engagement in January.

“There are no bad feelings at all,” the source said. “Eugenie is very close to Harry, and she knows how the system works.”

Despite her status as a minor royal, Eugenie’s wedding will have 850 guests — 250 more than the 600 that attended Harry’s nuptials.

Eugenie announced her engagement in January. Picture: Jonathan Brady

MORE: Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding plans suffer humiliating blow

But there is not expected to be anywhere near as much public interest in the princess’ wedding, with the BBC opting not to televise the event live.

“They turned it down because they don’t think enough people will tune in and that there isn’t enough support for the Yorks,” a source told the Mail on Sunday.

UK taxpayers will be forced to spend $AU3.6 million to cover the cost of Eugenie’s big day, which includes security and a carriage procession around Windsor.