Princess Eugenie to mark major family celebration after return to spotlight

Princess Eugenie is set to mark her husband's birthday today with low-key celebrations after she made a tentative return to public life last week.

Jack Brooksbank, Eugenie's husband of eight years, turns 40 today, with celebrations expected to be a quiet and subdued affair.

The couple are expected to mark the occasion subtly at Ivy Cottage, their three-bedroom residence nestled within the grounds of Kensington Palace.

An early celebration took place on Thursday evening, when Eugenie and Jack enjoyed dinner at Dorian, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Notting Hill.

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Eugenie has emerged from the wilderness in recent days, attending a glamorous wedding in Sicily after spending months away from the social scene.

The 36-year-old royal was spotted at the Cathedral of Monreale on 24 April for the marriage of hotelier Charles Forte to handbag designer Georgie Wright.

Celebrations continued at the luxurious Villa Igiea in Palermo, where more than 350 guests gathered for the occasion.

Though Eugenie refrained from posting on social media herself, she appeared in photographs shared by socialite Jazzy de Lisser, looking relaxed while mingling with fellow attendees.

Her appearance suggests a willingness to re-engage with public life following the turmoil surrounding her parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, in the wake of the Epstein files release.

The princess had earlier visited the exclusive Soho Mews House in Mayfair with her sister, Princess Beatrice.

Jack, meanwhile, has remained notably silent on social media in recent months, mirroring his wife's deliberate withdrawal from public platforms as the family navigates the ongoing fallout from her parents' scandals.

The low-key celebrations of today represent a stark transformation from his younger years, when he earned the nickname "barman Jack" as he frequented Mayfair's most fashionable establishments.

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Before meeting Eugenie, reports suggested he celebrated his 21st birthday dancing with a naked stripper.

His career began in Chelsea's hospitality scene, working at the Admiral Codrington gastropub before moving to the Markham Inn, where he befriended Prince Harry and Guy Pelly.

He subsequently helped manage Mahiki, the exclusive Mayfair nightclub beloved by young royals.

In 2018, he became European Brand Director for Casamigos tequila, the brand part-owned by George Clooney.

Yet even then, Jack insisted: "I leave work at 11pm and head home. I'm not a big drinker. People think we party a lot but actually we are very quiet."

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams observed that Jack "was once the archetypal party person, not only did he enjoy social life and partying, but he made it his job".

However, he told the Daily Mail: "His 40th birthday is on May 3, but this is not a time which will be easy for him to celebrate."

The expert highlighted how the scandal engulfing Eugenie's parents has "undoubtedly cast a pall over all their lives".

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