After welcoming her daughter Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank into the world, Princess Eugenie might have expected to be surrounded by her family.

Yet there was one notable absence – her mother, Sarah Ferguson.

Once the most exuberant of royal grandmothers, she appeared to have nothing to say publicly about the arrival of her new granddaughter.

Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed Adelaide at a hospital in Lisbon on August 3, and the King was quick to congratulate his niece on Instagram.

But there was no gushing tribute from Fergie, despite the fact she has previously been unable to contain her excitement at the arrival of her grandchildren.

She has spoken of how August – affectionately known as 'Augie' – made her smile, while Ernest – 'Ernie' – made her cry because one of his names, Ronnie, was chosen in honour of her father, Major Ronald Ferguson. 

For royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, this is another sign of how dramatically the York family has changed.

'This clearly illustrates how the wheel of fortune has turned,' he tells the Daily Mail.

And there was another detail that caught attention: the baby was not given a name linked to Sarah Ferguson.

Eugenie said the couple chose names of people they 'love and admire'. Elizabeth is understood to be a tribute to the late Queen, while Adelaide has historical and Portuguese connections.

Fergie was reportedly upset that she was not included, although Mr Fitzwilliams dismissed the 'ridiculous idea' that Eugenie should have named her daughter after her mother as risking 'social suicide'.

He believes this decision reflects just how much the York family has changed in recent years. 

'Anyone who remembers the bizarre Victorian Ball the York family posed for to commemorate Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday knows how the Yorks used to enjoy showing off,' he tells this newspaper.

And now, he insists, appearances are 'absolutely pivotal'.

Once regulars on the royal social circuit, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have become more cautious since their parents' reputations fell apart.

Their rare appearances tend to be at private family occasions or carefully chosen social events.

The sisters were seen at Peter Phillips's June wedding and at Poppy Delevingne's 40th birthday celebrations, but stayed away from Royal Ascot – an event that previously would have been an obvious fixture in their calendars.

Their father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been engulfed by the scandal surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while their mother Sarah Ferguson has suffered her own fall from grace.

The sisters still have their homes in London, but Mr Fitzwilliams points out that their position may not be secure.

'Beatrice and Eugenie's London homes are currently paid for by the King,' he says, warning that Prince William may not be so generous when he ascends the throne.

Meanwhile, since leaving Royal Lodge in Windsor, Fergie has not appeared to have a permanent home, instead being linked to a series of temporary arrangements in Austria and Switzerland.

Perhaps unlike the York family, Jack Brooksbank has never appeared to crave the spotlight and has avoided becoming embroiled in his wife's family dramas.

With three young children to protect, his priority is likely to be keeping their family life as normal and private as possible.

If Fergie does visit her daughter and granddaughter in Portugal, it will be a very different kind of family reunion from those of the past. 

Indeed, Mr Fitzwilliams believes that if she does make the trip, 'we will not see or hear that she has come and, hopefully, gone!'