In a notable departure from royal tradition, Samuel Chatto, grandson of the late Princess Margaret, was accompanied by his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian, during the British royal family’s annual Christmas Day walk to St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham.
Traditionally, only married partners join the royals for this event. Prince Harry first broke this convention in 2017 by inviting his then-fiancée, Meghan Markle.
Samuel, 28, and Eleanor both attended the University of Edinburgh. Samuel studied History of Art and has since become a sculptor, following in his artistic family’s footsteps.
This year’s Christmas Day walk was particularly special, with Catherine, Princess of Wales, attending after a year-long health battle. Princess Beatrice, expecting her second child, was also present with her family. Other attendees included Zara and Mike Tindall with their daughters, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh with their children, and Princess Anne.
The inclusion of Samuel’s girlfriend in the Christmas Day walk suggests a possible shift towards a more relaxed approach to royal traditions, reflecting the evolving dynamics within the royal family.
