Environmentally conscious Princess Eugenie has revealed how she was once terrified of the ocean, even though she now champions efforts to reverse the environmental damage it suffers.
The princess, 34, took to Instagram to share an adorable childhood photo of herself on the beach ahead of World Ocean Day on Saturday.
The young royal smiled towards the camera in the image wearing a blue swimsuit and matching bucket hat with a generous layer of sunscreen on her face.
Since becoming a mother to sons August, three, and Ernest, one, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York has dedicated herself to environmentalism in the hope of helping future generations.
On Instagram, she explained: “I love the ocean now, but I was actually afraid of it when I was a kid.
Princess Eugenie took to Instagram to share a photo of herself on the beach and revealed that she used to be “afraid” of the ocean.
She has a history of environmental awareness and has been an ambassador for the Blue Marine Foundation since June 2021.
The royal is an avid supporter of environmental issues and even celebrated a plastic-free wedding with her husband Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
In a second image showing the stunning scenery of a whale in its natural habitat, Eugenie also encouraged her Instagram followers to discover the Blue Marine Foundation, a charity that works to protect the ocean.
Eugenie has continued to show her dedication to the environment on multiple occasions, including her 2023 voyage with the Solent Seascape Project, which is the first attempt of its kind to actively restore the ocean in the UK.
At the time, Eugenie described how being a mother made her want to “do more” for her children and future grandchildren, adding that she hopes her three-year-old son August will one day take up environmentalism as well.
During the trip she was not afraid of getting trapped and helped scientists clean hundreds of oysters before returning them to the sea.
Princess Eugenie also avoids using single-use plastics at home and has already started educating August about climate change.
She previously said: ‘My son is going to be an activist from the age of two, which will be in a couple of days. It’s all for them, right? Every decision we make now has to do with how August will be able to live his life.”
After becoming a mother, Eugenie now “loves” the ocean and champions all environmental efforts to help clean up the sea to help future generations (pictured with her sons August (right) and Ernest (left).
It comes after Eugenie paid tribute to her husband Jack Brooksbank in a sweet birthday post last month.
The mother-of-two, 34, shared a series of snaps on Instagram to celebrate her ‘love’ on her 38th birthday with never-before-seen family photos showing the couple on the beach with their three-year-old son, August .
She captioned the photos: ‘Happy, happy birthday my love. Always giving joy wherever you are’, accompanied by three heart emojis.
One photo shows Eugenie with Jack enjoying a sunset on the beach as the couple raises their arms in the air for a photo.
Another snap showed the pair gazing into each other’s eyes at a gala for Force for Freedom, a charity founded by Eugenie and her friend Julia de Boinville, which works to end modern slavery and trafficking.
In another photo, Jack can be seen playing with seaweed on his head while playing with his son August on the beach.
Royal fans quickly flocked to the comments to wish Jack a happy birthday, but also to praise the couple’s adorable bond.
To help the environment a little, Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank (pictured) had a plastic-free wedding in 2018.
One person said: ‘Happy birthday Jack! You two are one of the cutest couples! I hope you all have a great celebration with your sweet family!’
Another said: ‘Happy birthday Jack. Hope you all have a great day, best wishes from Germany.” Meanwhile, another said: “Happy birthday to Jack, they are both lovely.”
The sweet photos come after Eugenie turned 34 with a tribute post dedicated to the “best gift of all”: her children.
The daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York took to Instagram last month to praise her two sons, August, three, and Ernest, who is about to celebrate his first birthday.
In the candid photo, Eugenie playfully held her youngest son, Ernest, in her arms.
The 34-year-old’s decision to appreciate family on her special day comes amid a worrying time for the royal family following news that King Charles III, 75, Kate, 42, and Sarah Ferguson , 64, face battles with cancer.
Princess Eugenie (pictured with her son in August 2022) previously told how becoming a mother made her want to do more for the environment.
In light of this, Eugenie captioned the post: “The best gift of all is my children… so on this birthday I appreciate my family and my loved ones.”
Princess Eugenie celebrated her birthday two days after the announcement that her cousin’s wife, the Princess of Wales, is battling cancer, the third member of the royal family to be diagnosed in recent months.
Princess Beatrice and Eugenie’s mother, Sarah Ferguson, was diagnosed with skin cancer just months after undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer. Her uncle, King Charles, is also receiving cancer treatments.
However, optimistically, Eugenie shared a thoughtful message celebrating the family on their special day.
Looking typically chic, Eugenie donned a short-sleeved caramel-colored jumper with a signature chunky headband in the image.
The mother of two accessorized her look with a pair of emerald earrings and a simple yet elegant gold chain.
Meanwhile, Ernest looked dapper in a pair of blue corduroy trousers and a matching knit jumper.
