I was rushing around the kitchen this morning, toast in one hand and school bags in the other, when my phone lit up with the news. Samuel Chatto, Princess Margaret’s grandson, had proposed to his girlfriend Eleanor with a ring he’d made himself from porcelain. For a moment the chaos paused. There was something rather lovely about it.
The couple, both 29, met at the University of Edinburgh and have been together since 2021. They share a flat in London and both earn their living as artists. No grand titles, no official duties for him. He sits 30th in line to the throne but lives the sort of grounded life many of us can relate to. That feels refreshing in its own way.
Samuel popped the question with a delicate porcelain band he had shaped and fired with his own hands. The engagement was announced on 13 July with a simple, joyful post on Instagram.
I am really delighted to say that Ellie and I are engaged. And we could not be happier.You can hear the genuine delight in those words. No spin, no performance. Just two young people who clearly love each other choosing to step forward together.
Buckingham Palace was quick to confirm the King had been told and was, in their words, very happy for them both. The wedding is planned for spring 2027. After years of rather louder royal headlines, this one lands with a gentle dignity that reminds you why so many Britons still hold the monarchy close.
Samuel is the son of Lady Sarah Chatto, the only daughter of Princess Margaret, and her husband, the actor Daniel Chatto. Eleanor’s parents are Professor David Ekserdjian, an art history academic at the University of Leicester, and Susan Moore, the respected art critic at the Financial Times. Art runs deep in both families. Their shared world of creativity clearly brought them together and now shapes this very personal proposal.
The pair have been part of several significant royal moments over the years. They attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and more recently the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling. Yet they have never sought the spotlight. Their low profile feels like a deliberate choice, one that speaks of quiet respect for tradition and family rather than any desire for attention.
