Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first pregnancy announcement has long been portrayed as poorly timed, with critics claiming the couple overshadowed Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.

However, Prince Harry later clarified in his memoir, Spare, that their intention was never to steal attention from the bride and groom.

Harry Explains Their Decision

In Spare, Harry shares that Eugenie’s wedding took place just months after his own, and he and Meghan were genuinely joyful for Eugenie and Jack.

“Euge was getting married to Jack, and we were deliriously happy for them and for ourselves, selfishly, since Jack was one of our favorite people,” he wrote, emphasizing their close bond rather than any desire to upstage the festivities.

Timing Driven by Practicality

According to Harry, the timing was based on their schedule, not on making a statement. The Sussexes were preparing to embark on their first official overseas tour as a married couple, meaning they would not see their family again for some time.

“We delayed the departure several days, so we could be at the wedding,” he recalled. “Also, the various gatherings connected to the wedding would give us a chance to pull aside family members one by one and tell them our good news.”

Sharing the News Privately with the Royal Family

Harry and Meghan chose to inform close family members discreetly during the reception. The first person they told was King Charles at Windsor Castle. “He was delighted to learn that he was going to be a grandfather for a fourth time,” Harry wrote. “His wide smile warmed me.” Later, they shared the news with Prince William. “We whispered the news, and Willy smiled and said, ‘We must tell Kate.’”

Kate Middleton reportedly received the news warmly, offering “a big smile and hearty congratulations,” according to Harry’s account. Everything was done quietly and respectfully, without public fanfare during the wedding festivities.

Despite the private nature of the announcement, the story took a different turn when the Royal Family publicly confirmed the pregnancy three days later on October 15, 2018, just as Harry and Meghan were beginning their royal tour of Australia.

This timing sparked widespread criticism that the couple had strategically used the wedding to enhance their own publicity.

Sarah Ferguson’s Silent Response

Although Sarah Ferguson did not explicitly voice her discontent, reports claimed she was angered by the pregnancy overshadowing her daughter’s wedding. As the announcement went public, Ferguson took to social media to post several tweets celebrating Eugenie and Brooksbank’s marriage. The Express suggested these posts were her subtle response to the Sussexes, expressing a desire to bring the attention back to Eugenie’s big day.