Princess Margaret’s Grandson Sam Chatto Is Engaged After Proposing with a Handmade Ring

Chatto shared the news on Instagram, writing that he “couldn’t be happier” to have asked Eleanor Ekserdjian to be his wife

Sam Chatto and Eleanor Ekserdjian.Credit : Huseyin Ovayolu; Huseyin Ovayolu

NEED TO KNOW

Sam Chatto proposed to Eleanor Ekserdjian with a porcelain ring he made himself
The couple met at the University of Edinburgh and have been dating since 2021
Find out how King Charles reacted to the news of Princess Margaret’s grandson getting engaged

Princess Margaret’s grandson Sam Chatto is set to wed his girlfriend Eleanor Ekserdjian.

The news that Sam, 29, had popped the question to Eleanor was confirmed by a Buckingham Palace spokesperson on Monday, July 13.

The pair, both artists who live together in London, also shared the news in a joint Instagram post accompanied by some black-and-white snaps.

Sam’s caption read, “I’m really delighted to say that Ellie and I are engaged. And we couldn’t be happier.”

The ceramicist also confirmed that he had forsaken tradition and proposed with a porcelain ring he made himself, adding a picture of the ring on his wife-to-be’s hand.

Sam Chatto and Eleanor Ekserdjian.Huseyin Ovayolu

The happy couple also shared a low-key smiling selfie as part of their announcement post, which appeared to have been taken in a photo booth.

Buckingham Palace shared that the couple’s families were “delighted” for them and that King Charles is “very happy for them both.” The palace also noted that the wedding would take place “next spring.”

Samuel Chatto and Eleanor Ekserdjian attend the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling.Max Mumby/Indigo/Gett

Sam’s parents, Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto, are both creatives — his mother is a painter, and his father is an actor.

Eleanor’s parents are also in the art world. Her father, Professor David Ekserdjian, is an art history professor at the University of Leicester, while her mother, Susan Moore, is an art critic at the U.K. newspaper The Financial Times, perThe Independent.

The outlet notes that Sam, who is 30th in line to the throne but has no royal duties, and his fiancée met while studying at the University of Edinburgh and have been dating since 2021.

Eleanor Ekserdjian’s engagement ring.Huseyin Ovayolu

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Despite not being a working royal, Sam occasionally joins the family at official events, such as the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth, the coronation of King Charles and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Most recently, the couple attended the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling, which took place at All Saints Church in Kemble, Cirencester, on June 6.

Among those congratulating the pair on their happy news was Flora Vesterberg, the granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy. She wrote, “Very happy for both of you,” in the comments section of their social media post.

Rumors of an impending engagement began when Sam and Eleanor were photographed arriving at the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service in 2024. This is a privilege usually only extended to married spouses.

However, the rule has been relaxed in recent years, and Meghan famously joined Prince Harry at Sandringham in 2017 ahead of the couple’s May wedding.

SOURCE: https://people.com/princess-margarets-grandson-sam-chatto-engaged-eleanor-ekserdjian-handmade-ring-12016848