Prince Andrew is "absolutely overjoyed" by Princess Eugenie's engagement.

Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew

The Duke of York was "thrilled" to find out Jack Brooksbank had proposed to his daughter and wishes them both every happiness in the future.

He said: "I'm absolutely overjoyed. I'm thrilled. Jack is an absolutely outstanding young man and Eugenie and him have got to know each other over a number of years. I'm really thrilled for them. I can't speak for the Duchess but we, and for Beatrice, we are overjoyed at the news today that Eugenie and Jack have got engaged."

And the 57-year-old royal says they are now looking at everybody's diaries to find a suitable date for the wedding, which will take place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the Autumn.

Speaking to the BBC, he added: "It's now about finding the time and date and getting it [the wedding] all organised. I think the Autumn will be the time everybody's looking at. We can't fix a date yet - we've got to look at everybody's diaries. It's a bit more complicated than that. But It's their day, I'm just completely overjoyed for them and wish them every happiness."

Buckingham Palace announced the happy news in a statement: "The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr Jack Brooksbank. Her Royal Highness and Mr Brooksbank became engaged in Nicaragua earlier this month. The wedding will take place in the Autumn of 2018 at George's Chapel in Windsor, with further details to be announced in due course."

Rumours that the pair were engaged have been flying around ever since December 2016 when Jack reportedly flew to Balmoral, Scotland to meet with Eugenie's mother Sarah Ferguson to ask for her blessing on a forthcoming engagement.

A source said at the time: "You could call this weekend a rite of passage for Jack. 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 ... You could say he was somewhat apprehensive about going to Balmoral. But Jack has no side to him and will just be himself."