Princess Eugenie is seen for the first time since her uncle King Charles’ cancer diagnosis as she spends time with Prince Harry’s ex girlfriend Cressida Bonas in Notting Hill

It’s been a tough time for Princess Eugenie with both her mother Sarah Ferguson and uncle King Charles dealing with cancer diagnoses. 

However, the royal, 33, who is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, appeared in good spirits as she joined her close pal Cressida Bonas for a pub trip. 

Eugenie was the one who introduced her cousin Prince Harry to Cressida, and they dated between 2012 and 2014, with Eugenie and the actress and mother-of-one  remaining close after the break-up. 

The princess donned a stylish dark green tartan-print coat for her outing in west London, adding a grey beanie hat and Adidas trainers for a casual look. 

Eugenie and Cressida shared a hug outside the Walmer Castle pub, as they made their way home around 10pm. 

Princess Eugenie broke cover for the first time since news of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis as she spent time in Notting Hill on Wednesday evening

Actress and model Cressida, 34, has a son, Wilbur, with her husband, property investor Harry Wentworth-Stanley. 

They appeared deep in conversation after enjoying a drink together for a couple of hours. 

Eugenie, who shares sons August and Ernest with her husband Jack Brookshank, seemed to make a brisk departure as she headed home. 

It is the first time she has been seen in public since Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this week.  

The news will come as a heavy blow for the princess and her sister Beatrice after their mother Sarah Ferguson revealed she had been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer in December – her second cancer diagnosis in a year. 

In a similar process to the King, it was during reconstructive surgery that the duchess had a series of moles removed for analysis, one of which was found to be cancerous.

She told royal fans the second diagnosis was a ‘shock’ but that she remained in ‘good spirits’ as she praised doctors for identifying the issue early.

It came just months after undergoing a second bout of reconstructive surgery following her breast cancer diagnosis.

At the time of her diagnosis, the Duchess posted on Instagram: ‘I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Eugenie was snapped with her close pal Cressida Bonas, who is also Prince Harry’s ex-girlfriend

Cressida and Eugenie showed how close their friendship remains as they shared a hug outside the Walmer Castle pub

The royal, 33, who is the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, appeared in good spirits as she headed back

Eugenie was supported by her friends after a difficult week as news broke of her uncle’s cancer diagnosis

It was announced earlier this week that King Charles (pictured in November) had been diagnosed with cancer

‘It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was.

‘Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock but I’m in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support.

‘I believe my experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma and urge anyone who is reading this to be diligent.’

Meanwhile, Beatrice and Eugenie may be expected to ‘step up’ to support the royal family, with King Charles out of action and Princess Kate recovering from surgery. 

‘All of a sudden with these health problems we have it’s looking very, very threadbare,’ royal commentator Phil Dampier told MailOnline earlier this week.

Eugenie looked stylish in a dark green curtain coat, which she paired with casual trainers

She added a beanie hat to keep warm, while Cressida opted for a black puffer jacket

Eugenie is believed to have set up Cressida with her cousin Prince Harry – and they have remained close

The group spent a couple of hours catching up over a drink at the Walmer Castle pub on Wednesday

With other working royals such as Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal being in their mid-70s, he fears there are few younger royals able to pick up the slack.

‘It’s all fallen really to a great extent to William and Kate and you do sometimes wonder if the stress of that knowledge and all the problems with Harry and Meghan have contributed to the pressure that Kate has felt under,’ he said.

Mr Dampier said that although Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could be brought in ‘for minor duties’, their father Prince Andrew’s ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein make their involvement ‘more difficult’ for the family. 

Instead, he praised the Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie for a doing a ‘very good job’, adding he would like to see her ‘upping her game and doing a bit more’.  

‘I certainly think there could be a very good role for their daughter Louise Windsor, who has previously chosen not to take a title,’ he added.