A Royal Engagement Could Be on The Way For Another One of Prince William and Prince Harry's Cousins

Eleanor Ekserdjian and Samuel Chatto wealking next to each other to church on Christmas Day with Arthur Chatto behind them — (Image credit: Alamy)

Love is in the air for the Windsors and the Spencers this summer, with two of Prince Harry and Prince William's cousins getting engaged in August. Both Peter Phillips and Lady Eliza Spencer announced their engagements on Friday, August 1, with Princess Anne's son proposing to girlfriend Harriet Sperling and Princess Diana's niece accepting a ring from longtime boyfriend Channing Millerd. But fans are looking to another royal love match for the next big wedding: Princess Margaret's 28-year-old grandson, Samuel Chatto, and his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian.

Engagement rumors began in December 2024 when Ekserdjian walked with Chatto and the rest of the Royal Family to church on Christmas Day at Sandringham—an unusual move for a royal girlfriend. While Meghan Markle joined the family for church just after her 2017 engagement to Prince Harry, Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie didn't get to attend the Christmas service until they were married.

And Ekserdjian attended another Royal Family outing over the weekend, joining Sam, his mother, Sarah Chatto, and The King at the Mey Highland Games in Scotland. In a photo published in Hello!, the couple is pictured wearing coordinating brown tweed blazers while Sam sports a red and green kilt.

Latest Videos FromMarie Claire

Watch full video here:

Eleanor Ekserdjian wearing a black beret — Ekserdjian is pictured on Christmas Day 2024.

Sarah Chatto and Sam Chatto both wearing blue jackets standing in front of a tree — Princess Margaret's daughter, Sarah Chatto, is Sam's mother.

The couple—who are said to have been dating since 2021—both attended the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Drawing School. Samuel and Eleanor share a mutual passion for the arts, with Ekserdjian's website bio describing her as "a painter and film artist whose practice blends moving images with rapid mark-making."

Per Tatler, Samuel's girlfriend was "born to an illustrious artistic pedigree," as her father, David Ekserdjian, is a well-known art historian and professor, and her mother, Susan Moore, is an art critic for the Financial Times.

As for Samuel, he comes from an equally creative background. His mother, Sarah, is a trained artist and regularly exhibits her paintings and sketches at London's Redfern Gallery, while dad Daniel is also a painter. And of course, Princess Margaret's ex-husband, Lord Snowdon—Sam's grandfather—was a renowned photographer.

Samuel has carried on the family tradition by specializing in ceramics, often sharing pieces from his West Sussex studio on Instagram. And although he keeps his relationship with Ekserdjian private, her appearance at another royal event shows this relationship is certainly going strong.

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.