Buckingham Palace has joyfully announced the engagement of Samuel Chatto, grandson of Princess Margaret, to his longtime partner, Eleanor Ekserdjian. Both 29 years old and practicing artists, the couple share a home in London.
Samuel, the son of Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto, and Eleanor’s family are reportedly thrilled by the news. The couple, who began dating in 2021, recently informed King Charles, who is said to be “delighted” by their forthcoming union. Their wedding is planned for next spring.
Demonstrating his artistic talent, Samuel crafted the engagement ring from porcelain—a unique and personal touch. Announcing the happy news on Instagram, Samuel shared a series of photos and wrote, “I’m really delighted to say that Ellie and I are engaged. And we couldn’t be happier. I proposed with a porcelain ring which I made. @e.ekserdjian”.
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Speculation about their engagement had circulated following Eleanor’s invitation to spend Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham. This invitation is traditionally reserved for partners who are committed or engaged, granting the public a rare glimpse of the couple attending the Christmas Day church service together.
As the eldest grandchild of Princess Margaret, Samuel is part of a close-knit family that includes his younger brother Arthur Chatto and two cousins, Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones. His parents, Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto, married in 1994.
Samuel David Benedict Chatto was born on July 28, 1996, in London. Following family tradition, he attended Eton College before studying History of Art at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned an MA in 2018. He has a passion for ceramics and even completed a yoga teacher training course in India in 2019.
Eleanor Ekserdjian is also 29 and attended the University of Edinburgh. While details about when and where the couple first met remain private, Eleanor is a painter with a recognized body of work. Notably, one of her sketches titled “SAM”—a portrait of Samuel—was exhibited at The Gallery at Green & Stone’s summer show.
Eleanor’s father, Professor David Ekserdjian, is a distinguished art historian specializing in History of Art and Film at the University of Leicester. Her mother, Susan Moore, is a respected art critic for the Financial Times.
With shared artistic passions and a deep connection to the royal family, Samuel Chatto and Eleanor Ekserdjian’s engagement is a joyous occasion celebrated both privately and publicly.