Princess Eugenie demonstrated her support for a cause dear to Queen Camilla’s heart by reading to schoolchildren in Chelsea on Thursday.
Turning 34 on Saturday, the royal narrated the beloved tale of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant by David McKee to commemorate the launch of the Elephant Family charity’s Little Egg Hunt. Eugenie exuded elegance in a burgundy coat and a floral midi dress as she enthusiastically engaged the children with the story in the heart of Sloane Square.
The Little Egg Hunt, making a comeback to Chelsea after a ten-year hiatus, showcases egg-shaped sculptures crafted by renowned figures such as Anya Hindmarch and Philip Colbert. Elephant Family, established by Queen Camilla’s late brother, Mark Shand, in 2003, is dedicated to safeguarding the Asian elephant from extinction in its natural habitat.
Eugenie, who is patron of the charity, told ITN: “It was so important to be here because I’ve worked with Elephant Family for so many years now and they’re a charity so close to my heart, so close to my family’s heart and Mark Shand, who started the charity, was a dear friend.
“What they’re doing in saving elephants and making sure people are aware of what’s going on around elephants and in wildlife is so important for the world to know. The legacy that they’ve created and the excitement around egg hunts or elephant [sculpture] hunts, a few years ago, it brings elephants to London.
“I think bridging that gap between what happens in the wild, although we might not see it every day, actually you can come to a city and learn about just what goes on and how elephants really need to be looked after and protected because there is this human-wildlife conflict happening, and it’s so important that elephants live in peace and humans live in peace.”
The showcase precedes the upcoming tenth anniversary of Mark’s death. Camilla’s sibling, a travel writer and conservationist, met a tragic end at the age of 62 on April 23, 2014, following a severe head injury from a fall outside the Rose Bar of the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York.
King Charles and Queen Camilla serve as the co-Royal Presidents of Elephant Family, organizing an annual charity ball at Clarence House. At this event, attendees are urged to don animal masks in support of the cause.
