Royal Tragedy: Princess Eugenie’s father-in-law, 72, dies days before grandson’s royal christening

Princess Eugenie is grieving the death of her father-in-law, who passed away days prior to the royal christening of her son, August. 

Marring the joy of the rare double royal christening milestone, George Brooksbank, 72, father of Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, died the same week of August’s christening at the All Saint’s Chapel in Windsor Great Park. 

Princess Eugenie and her husband put on a brave mask yesterday, November 22, choosing to go ahead with the christening “despite suffering the secret heartbreak” of her father-in-law’s passing. 

 

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The announcement of his death comes weeks after concerns regarding the Queen’s health prevented her from attending several of her royal duties. 

The Daily Mail reports that George was “ill for some time” after battling Covid. In mid-March last year, the Queen’s granddaughter and husband were told to ‘prepare for the worst after Mr Brooksbank spent nine weeks in intensive care at the Chelsea and Westminister Hospital, and five weeks on a ventilator fighting Covid after his trip to France last year. 

A source tells the Daily Mail it was a “miracle” Mr Brooksbank survived the long weeks in intensive care but it was “wonderful” that he was alive to see August born. 

At the time, Mr Brooksbank said he felt “absolutely fine,” and attributed his recovery to the several weeks he spent in the hospital’s care. However, Daily Mail sources say Mr Brooksbank “had not been the same” after leaving hospital. 

The retired chartered accountant was in a “serious but stable” condition while in hospital during the country’s first national lockdown. 

Mr Brooksbank was discharged from hospital two months later when his condition gradually improved after a tracheostomy and rehabilitation at St Mary’s in Roehampton. 

His death hit the Royal family prior to the one-of-a-kind double christening of the Queen’s two great-grandsons.