Princess Eugenie held back tears as she discussed introducing her son to her grandfather shortly before he died. Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, gave birth to son August Philip Hawke just weeks before the Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9 2021.
In a clip of the BBC documentary Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, Eugenie talked of the special relationship she shared with her grandfather. She said: “We named August, August Philip because grandpa had been such a huge, inspiring character in my life.
“I brought little August to come and meet him and told him that we’d named him after him and it was such a lovely moment. We were very lucky to do that.”
Eugenie had to take a quick break from speaking as she held back tears while discussing the close bond she had with her grandfather.
Princess Eugenie, who is married to Jack Brooksbank, also discussed the special wedding gift Prince Philip gave her on her wedding day in 2018.
The Duke of Edinburgh had gifted his granddaughter a handmade painting of flowers that she said is now sat in her London home.
She said: “It was so nice, it’s now sitting in my house in London and I’m so proud of it, you know?” Prince Philip had plenty of hobbies known to the public, but one that was kept somewhat hidden was his love of painting.
Philip, who died at Windsor Castle aged 99, had a flair for oil painting and even painted his wife Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen can be seen sitting at a table with what looks like a fresh loaf of bread and a jar of marmalade.
The painting was part of the Duke’s private collection but was published in The Royal Portrait Image and Impact in 2010.
Author Jennifer Scott, assistant curator of paintings at the Royal Collection, said at the time: “I think generally people don’t known that the Duke of Edinburgh paints, it’s quite a private pursuit. I think it’s a really good painting, it’s a got a real quality to it – it seems such a private moment, the Queen sitting having her breakfast, she could be anybody.”
