Princess Eugenie (Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Eugenie has been given a glowing verdict by locals in the Portuguese town where she has quietly built a new life with husband Jack Brooksbank.
The royal couple are regularly spotted out and about near their luxury home, but despite their famous status, they appear to have found a way to blend into the community.
And one tiny gesture in particular has reportedly left locals impressed.
A councillor living near the couple told the Daily Mail that Eugenie and Jack are frequently seen around the area, including during walks and trips out in their Range Rover.
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“I see Eugenie and Jack quite often. We live very close and I knew she was pregnant as I saw her bump. I would often see them in their Range Rover as well,” he said.
But it is not their luxury lifestyle that has caught the attention of neighbours.
“They are very friendly and always wave to say hello and they both also speak a little bit of Portuguese, which has really impressed everyone in the village,” the councillor said.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
“They go for a walk on the main street and go to the restaurant and no one bothers them.”
The local said residents are careful not to invade the family’s privacy, despite knowing exactly who they are.
“It’s mainly locals here and not many foreigners, so no one really knows who she is – but of course the people in Melides know but we don’t bother her. We leave her alone to get on with her life.”
Now Eugenie’s Portuguese connection has taken on an even more special meaning.
The princess and Jack have welcomed their third child – a daughter – after she was born at a hospital in Lisbon on Monday, August 3.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the baby arrived at 6.20pm, weighing 6lb 9oz, with both mother and daughter said to be doing well.
The little girl is also believed to be the first of Eugenie’s children to be born overseas.
Locals were quick to celebrate the news, with the councillor saying: “I heard on the radio their new baby was born in Lisbon, so she is Portuguese by birth, which is wonderful for us here. Everyone is delighted for them.”
Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
The family have a £3.6million oceanside villa at the exclusive Costa Terra resort, where homes are hidden among pine trees and sand dunes.
The development offers a mile-long stretch of beach, multiple restaurants, a wellness spa, an equestrian centre and an 18-hole golf course.
And nearby Melides has plenty of celebrity glamour of its own, with Christian Louboutin’s five-star Vermelho hotel offering rooms for as much as £919 a night during high season.
Jose Santos, president of the local tourist board, said the presence of the royal families was proving a huge boost.
“For us to have Harry and Meghan and Eugenie and her family as guests and residents is such a fantastic advert for the area,” he said.
The locals’ discretion appears to be part of the appeal, with Santos adding: “Costa Terra where they live is very exclusive and the security is very tight.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson is also rumoured to have returned to Melides following her daughter’s birth.
Staff at O Fadista restaurant said Eugenie and Jack are regular visitors, with one waiter saying: “Eugenie and her husband are regulars and have been here quite a few times with friends.”
