Although she does not undertake official duties, Lady Sarah Chatto is a beloved member of the Royal Family.
Sarah, 61, who is the daughter of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, the 1st Earl of Snowdon, shared a strong bond with her aunt, Queen Elizabeth II.
After Margaret’s death, the pair grew closer and the late Queen frequently invited Sarah to her favourite hideaway, Craigowan Lodge, in Aberdeenshire.
Sarah is also believed to have a close relationship with her cousin, King Charles III.
The two are said to enjoy spending leisure time painting together at Balmoral whenever possible.
Although she does not undertake official duties, Lady Sarah Chatto is a much-loved member of the Royal Family
Princess Margaret and Armstrong-Jones, had two children: David, born in 1961, and Sarah, born in 1964.
However, their marriage was marred by infidelity, ultimately leading to their divorce in 1978 after a turbulent two-year separation.
During this difficult time, family holidays at the royal estates of Sandringham and Balmoral provided some comfort for 14-year-old Sarah, who often spent time with cousins Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Sarah and her brother, David, spent much of their childhood at Kensington Palace, where their parents were a strong influence in their lives.
Lord Snowdon, a renowned society photographer, nurtured their creative talents in art and design, with Sarah and David going on to become an artist and furniture maker, respectively.
Sarah developed a particular passion for landscape painting – an interest she shares with her cousin, King Charles.
After leaving school with an A-level in Art, Sarah studied at the Camberwell School of Art and later the Royal Academy Schools.
Since 1995, she has been exhibiting works of art, under her maiden name – Sarah Armstrong-Jones – at The Redfern Gallery in London.
In a recent show, over three-quarters of Sarah’s paintings were sold, most of which were expressive landscapes rendered in bold colours.
She has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Winsor & Newton Prize in 1988 and the Creswick Landscape Prize in 1990.
Sarah is believed to have a close relationship with her cousin, King Charles III. The two are said to enjoy spending leisure time painting together at Balmoral whenever possible
Sarah has strong royal connections, having served as a chief bridesmaid at Princess Anne’s 1973 wedding to Mark Phillips and Charles’s 1981 nuptials to Princess Diana
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sarah, who is 28th in line to the throne, became vice president of the Royal Ballet in 2004, and its president in 2024
Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, aged nine, with her father Antony Armstrong-Jones, far left, her mother Princess Margaret, centre, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew, far right, at the Badminton Horse Trials in 1973
Members of the Royal Family attended Sarah’s wedding to Daniel Chatto in 1994
Sarah and her family attended Crathie Kirk on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2023
Like his cousin, King Charles is a talented artist and has become quite a dab hand with watercolours.
Charles has been interested in the artform since he was a young child, and during his youth he painted his parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
In 2022, 79 of the King’s watercolour pieces were displayed at Chelsea’s Garrison Chapel, marking the first full exhibition of his work in the medium.
The paintings depicted Scottish landscapes, such as the Huna Mill at John O’Groats and Glen Callater near Balmoral, and scenes from the south of France and Tanzania.
In a display panel, Charles said the hobby ‘refreshes parts of the soul which other activities can’t reach’.
He continued: ‘It all requires the most intense concentration and consequently is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic exercises I know.
‘In fact, in my case, I find it transports me into another dimension which, quite literally, refreshes parts of the soul which other activities can’t reach.’
Sarah has strong royal connections, having served as a chief bridesmaid at Princess Anne’s 1973 wedding to Mark Phillips and Charles’s 1981 nuptials to Princess Diana. She is also a godmother to their son, Prince Harry.
Additionally, she is a godmother to Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, as well as to Lady Rose Gilman, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sarah, who is 28th in line to the throne, became president of The Royal Ballet School in June. She had previously served as vice president for 20 years.
Although she maintains a relatively low profile, she is known to attend significant royal events, such as last year’s Royal Ascot.
Demonstrating their close relationship, Sarah and her family accompanied the King and Queen to Crathie Kirk on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2023.
She, along with her husband, Daniel, and their two sons, Samuel and Arthur, were seen walking to and from the service.
