Lady Sarah Chatto’s eldest son, Samuel Chatto, fueled engagement speculation on Christmas Day after attending the annual service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.
The 28-year-old grandson of Princess Margaret made headlines not only for his royal appearance but also for being accompanied by his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian. This marked a notable break from tradition, as unmarried partners of royals rarely join the family for the Christmas Day walkabout.
The last time a similar exception was made was in 2017, when Prince Harry invited Meghan Markle, his then-fiancée, to the festivities ahead of their 2018 wedding.
A Life in the Arts
Though Samuel maintains a relatively low profile due to his position within the royal family, he has gained recognition for his talents as a ceramicist and sculptor.
After earning a degree in History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, Samuel pursued his passion for pottery. He completed a six-week apprenticeship at North Shore Pottery and a course at the Royal Drawing School in 2020. Now based in West Sussex, Samuel’s home doubles as his ceramics studio, where he creates and sells his work.
On Instagram, Samuel has cultivated an impressive following of 89,000 fans, regularly sharing his artistic creations. In a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, he reflected on his creative journey: “I’ve always had a strong affinity for creating objects, spending much of my childhood crafting imagined landscapes and sculptural models. This naturally led me to clay during my later years at school. Inspired by a visit to North Shore Pottery in Scotland, I set up a small home studio to rediscover my creativity and built a wood-fired kiln in my garden.”
Samuel also expressed his belief in the importance of art, saying, “Beautiful, well-made objects have the power to enrich and enhance our lives.”
A Passion for Yoga
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Samuel is a trained yoga teacher. At the end of 2018, he spent six weeks in India, completing a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program.
Sharing his experience on Instagram, he wrote: “I had the most amazing six weeks in India, four of which were spent completing my Yoga Teacher Training. It was an incredibly eye-opening experience, and I’m deeply grateful for the connections I made and the insights I gained about my body, mind, and spirit.”
Although Samuel has no immediate plans to teach yoga, the experience has profoundly influenced his life and outlook.
With his artistic talents, commitment to wellness, and his recent public appearance with Eleanor, Samuel Chatto continues to intrigue royal watchers while carving out his own unique path.
