Princess Eugenie and her long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank were the subject of engagement reports following their weekend stay at Balmoral. The couple spent a few days at the Queen's Scottish retreat in the Highlands, where they joined Her Majesty and other members of the royal family.
Jack has briefly met the 90-year-old monarch before but the invitation to stay for a prolonged period of time at Balmoral – one of the Queen's favourite retreats – is a sign of Jack and Eugenie's solid relationship.
The 26-year-old Princess seems eager for her nightclub manager boyfriend to get to know her beloved 'Granny'. The pair were spotted touching down in Aberdeen on Thursday and travelled by car to the Queen's residence.
© Photo: Getty ImagesJack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie spent the weekend at Balmoral
"You could call this weekend a rite of passage for Jack," an insider told the Sunday Express. "There is no way he would be invited to stay with the Queen unless he was being welcomed into the royal fold and the bosom of the family.
Balmoral: why the royals love spending time here
"Jack has met the Queen before but these few days will enable her to get to know him much better and see what he is like as a prospective member of the family.
"Eugenie doesn't have to ask the Queen for permission to marry but she obviously wants her to be happy with her choice of husband. These relaxed weekends are the ideal way to break the ice."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe nightclub manager gets on well with Eugenie's parents
While royal watchers have speculated that an imminent engagement is on the cards, a spokesperson for Eugenie's mother the Duchess of York recently told HELLO! that the reports were not true.
Jack was not the only special guest at Balmoral this weekend. Theresa May was also meeting the Queen for the first time in her capacity as Prime Minister.
Prince Harry was also celebrating his 32nd birthday party – a shooting trip in the grounds of Balmoral with his friends and family members.
