Samuel Chatto, Princess Margaret’s grandson, was joined by his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian, marking a significant milestone in their relationship.
Eleanor walked alongside Samuel during the traditional royal outing, where Samuel sported a Highgrove scarf—a charcoal and beige merino wool piece gifted by the King in 2023 and worn by various royal family members. While Samuel, 28, is known for keeping his personal life private, Eleanor’s presence signals an important step, as this event typically includes only married partners of royals.
Prince Harry broke this tradition in 2017 by bringing his then-fiancée Meghan Markle to the Christmas Day walk, setting a precedent that Eleanor now follows.
Who is Eleanor Ekserdjian?
Eleanor graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2019 with an MA in Fine Art, the same university Samuel attended for his History of Art degree. A multidisciplinary artist, Eleanor’s work spans drawing, film, and performance. Her art explores the emotive power of silent films, using drawing as a medium to capture the visceral responses evoked by the visuals.
One London gallery described her creations as “lyrical landscapes of anxiety” that trace the fears and emotions of film protagonists through dynamic mark-making.
Samuel Chatto’s Artistic Journey
Like Eleanor, Samuel shares a deep connection to the arts. He trained in pottery at North Shore Pottery in Scotland and maintains a pottery studio at his West Sussex home. In 2023, he began an apprenticeship with Japanese artist Yagi Akira in Kyoto, Japan, further honing his craft.
Reflecting on his passion for ceramics in a 2019 interview, Samuel said, “I’ve always had a strong affinity for creating objects, spending much of my childhood crafting landscapes and sculptural models, which naturally led me to clay during my later school years.”
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Samuel completed a six-week yoga teacher training course in India in 2019, calling it a transformative experience.
This shared creative spirit seems to unite the couple, whose presence at Sandringham signals a growing closeness within the royal fold.
