Samuel Chatto has given royal watchers a rare dose of romance after announcing his engagement to fellow artist Eleanor Ekserdjian with a ring unlike any traditional royal jewel.
Samuel Chatto – the heartthrob grandson of the late Princess Margaret – has announced his engagement to his university sweetheart, Eleanor Ekserdjian
The unique engagement ring given to the bride, who is known as Ellie and lives in the capital with Samuel, was made in porcelain by the royal
The 29-year-old ceramicist, who is the grandson of Princess Margaret and 30th in line to the British throne, shared the happy news on Instagram, revealing that he proposed to Eleanor, known as Ellie, with a porcelain ring he made himself. In a short and heartfelt message, Samuel said he and Ellie “couldn’t be happier”, adding that the ring was his own handmade creation.
The engagement is understood to have delighted both families. King Charles has reportedly been informed and is said to be very happy for the couple, who are believed to be planning a wedding next spring. Samuel is the son of Lady Sarah Chatto, the King’s cousin and niece of Queen Elizabeth II, and actor-turned-artist Daniel Chatto.
Samuel Chatto was seen with his partner Eleanor Ekserdjian outside All Saints’ Church in Kemble, Cirencester, in June for the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling
Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto attend an event in London in 2022 with Sam and Eleanor
Ellie, also 29, is a painter and film artist. Like Samuel, she has a deep connection to the creative world. The pair are thought to have met in 2021 while studying at the University of Edinburgh, and they have been pictured together publicly since 2022. Their relationship soon became a quiet point of interest among royal fans, especially after Ellie began appearing at family events.
Her presence at Sandringham for Christmas in 2024 sparked early engagement rumours, as unmarried partners are not traditionally included in the royal family’s festive walkabout unless a relationship is especially serious. Ellie also joined Samuel at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in June, further suggesting she had been warmly welcomed into the wider royal circle.
Eleanor was at Sandringham Castle alongside Sam’s royal relatives for Christmas in 2024 – an event which is not traditionally attended by partners who are not yet married or engaged
Princess Margaret’s first grandchild Sam Chatto at his ceramics studio, as the young royal is passionate about his creative ventures
The couple’s love story appears to be rooted as much in art as in romance. Samuel works in clay and has spoken openly about his passion for creating functional and sculptural ceramics. He previously completed an apprenticeship in Japan under professional potter Yagi Akira and has described his belief in the power of beautiful, well-made objects to enrich everyday life.
Ellie’s own artistic career has also drawn attention. She is described as an abstract painter and film artist whose practice involves projecting moving images onto paper or canvas before responding through physical mark-making. Her works have been held in private collections, and she has completed residencies in places including Braemar and Kyoto.
The handmade porcelain engagement ring has now become the defining detail of their announcement. Rather than choosing a large diamond or a traditional heirloom jewel, Samuel’s proposal centred on something intimate, personal and deeply connected to his craft. For many royal followers, that small detail made the engagement feel refreshingly different.
Samuel has largely grown up away from the most intense glare of royal life. He comes from one of the monarchy’s most artistic branches: his mother, Lady Sarah, is a painter; his father, Daniel, is an artist and former actor; and his grandfather was the celebrated photographer Lord Snowdon.
Now, with a spring wedding reportedly on the horizon, Samuel and Ellie’s engagement adds a softer, more romantic chapter to the royal calendar. It is not a headline built on palace tension or family drama, but on two young artists, a long-running relationship, and a handmade ring that says more than any grand display ever could.
