The Duke of York has released official photographs of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank to mark their engagement, including a close-up of her spectacular sapphire ring.

Press Association staff photographer Jonathan Brady took the photographs in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Eugenie wore a dress by Erdem, costing £1,288 (roughly A$2,250), which she first wore for a photoshoot and interview for a feature article with Harper’s Bazaar’s September 2016 issue. She wore black Jimmy Choo shoes and showed off her ring with a padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

Some have remarked the ring is very similar to the one Prince Andrew gave Sarah Ferguson for their engagement in 1986.

The BBC’s The One Show’s Matt Baker interviewed the newly-engaged couple when and where the proposal took place.

According to the couple, Jack proposed on bended knee as the sun was setting near a volcano and a romantic lake in Nicaragua.

Eugenie said the proposal was completely unexpected even though they had been together for seven years.

When asked, Eugenie and Jack said they told very few people, mostly their parents, siblings and grandparents.

Eugenie said ‘Granny know right at the beginning’ as Jack added that Queen Elizabeth was ‘was incredibly happy.’

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Princess Eugenie’s grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, were ‘very pleased and wish the couple all the best’.

When asked, proud father Prince Andrew, the Duke of York said, ‘I’m absolutely overjoyed. I’m thrilled’ and wished them every happiness.

Eugenie, as a Princess of the Blood, is currently eighth in the line of the British throne, so she doesn’t need the Queen’s permission to marry. She will keep her title and have the option of taking her husband’s surname.

However, speculation arises whether the Queen will offer Jack a title ahead of his marriage, possibly an earldom.

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More About Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena of York was born on 23 March 1990 at The Portland Hospital in London. She is Prince Andrew and Sarah Duchess of York’s second and youngest daughter.

Eugenie first attended Upton House School and Coworth Park School before moving to St George’s School in Windsor.

In 2012, Eugenie had back surgery when she was 12, to correct a scoliosis condition. Eugenie is now patron of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, to support people with similar conditions.

Eugenie then became a boarder at Marlborough College in 2003, where she completed A levels in Art, English Literature and History of Art.

She graduated from Newcastle University in 2012 after studying a Combined Honours BA in English Literature, History of Art and Politics.

Eugenie now works full-time as a director at the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in London.

She is patron of the Elephant Family, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Coronet Theatre and The European School of Osteopathy.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s engagement photos

Eugenie’s parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced their engagement on 17 March 1986.

Embed from Getty Images

Prince Andrew presented Sarah with an engagement ring with a Burma ruby surrounded by ten drop-diamonds, mounted in eighteen-carat white and yellow gold.