Culture

The Norfolk retreat over the festive period

December, 27, 2024-04:50

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The Norfolk retreat over the festive period


The Duchess of Sussex was not present at Sandringham, but one member of the Royal Family took advantage of a tradition that was modified for the American former actress. Samuel Chatto, the grandson of Princess Margaret, received approval to bring his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian, to the Norfolk estate. This adjustment followed King Charles's decision to emulate his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who had permitted Meghan Markle to join the festive celebrations in 2017, just five months before her wedding to Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

Meghan was the first person allowed to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham prior to her official entry into the Royal Family. In contrast, Kate Middleton had to wait until after her marriage to become the Duchess of Cambridge, and Sophie Rhys-Jones did not stay at Sandringham before marrying Prince Edward and acquiring the title of Countess of Wessex. A keen observer of the royal family remarked, "This clearly suggests that a royal wedding is imminent in the New Year." King Charles was at Sandringham on Christmas Day, and Eleanor's visit was facilitated by the King’s choice to follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth, who had welcomed Meghan to the holiday festivities in 2017.

In 2021, I disclosed that Sam, 28, had started dating Eleanor, also 28, who is an artist. Not only had he developed a romantic relationship with the London-based painter, but he had also become her muse. Eleanor confided in me at that time, "We are a couple." Inspired by their relationship, the daughter of an arts professor began to incorporate Sam into her artwork. Sam, an Eton-educated ceramicist, comes from a creative lineage; his mother, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, a cousin of the King, regularly submits her works to the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition, while his father is the actor-turned-artist Daniel Chatto. After experiencing heartbreak from a breakup during the Covid lockdowns, Sam received an invitation to Buckingham.