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Lady Sarah Chatto
Lady Sarah Chatto
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Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto (née Armstrong-Jones; born 1 May 1964) is a member of the British royal family. She is the only daughter of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. She and her brother, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, are the only maternal first cousins of King Charles III. At her birth, she was 7th in line to the British throne; as of 2026, she is 29th. Though she does not undertake public duties, she frequently attends events and ceremonies with the wider royal family.

Key Information

Early life and education

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Sarah Frances Elizabeth Armstrong-Jones was born at 8:20 am on 1 May 1964 at Kensington Palace in London.[1] She is the second child and only daughter of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. She was baptised in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace on 13 July.

Sarah is a godmother to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex,[2] Lady Rose Gilman, and Lady Louise Windsor.[3] She also has half-siblings on her father's side: Polly Fry (born 1960),[4] Lady Frances Armstrong-Jones (born 1979), and Jasper Cable-Alexander (born 1998).[5][6]

Sarah and her brother, David, then Viscount Linley, grew up in the nursery of Kensington Palace, Apartment 10.[7][a] They were raised with a nanny called Verona Sumner, although their parents, especially their father, were comparatively hands-on (for the time), with their father teaching them to build things and be creative.[7]

Their parents' marriage was fractious; the couple formally separated when Sarah was 12 and divorced when she was 14. She and her brother spent weekends, depending on with which parent, at either Nymans or Royal Lodge.[7] Holidays were given to the royal estates at Sandringham and Balmoral, where Sarah did landscape painting.[7]

Sarah was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer. She accompanied her mother and brother on an official visit to China and Hong Kong in May 1987.[7]

She attended Bedales School, which she left with a single A level in Art.[7] She enrolled at the Camberwell School of Art.[8] She also studied art at the Royal Academy Schools.[8] She then spent two years in India with her father, where he was employed to photograph the production of A Passage to India.[7] The film's producer, her relative John Knatchbull, 7th Baron Brabourne (son-in-law of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma), gave her a job as an intern assisting the wardrobe department and studying wood gilding under her father's cousin Thomas Messel.[7] Returning to England, she enrolled in a two-year course in textile and fabric design at Middlesex Polytechnic (later renamed as Middlesex University).[9]

Professional life

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Chatto has been exhibiting her work, always under the name Sarah Armstrong-Jones, at The Redfern Gallery since 1995.[10] Her work has won awards: the Winsor & Newton Prize in 1988 and the Creswick Landscape Prize in 1990.[10]

In 2004, she became vice president of the Royal Ballet, of which her mother had been president.[7][11] She was named president in 2024.[12]

Chatto does not undertake public duties and is not considered a "working royal". However, it has been reported that she was close to her aunt Queen Elizabeth II, being the queen's niece. Chatto is frequently seen attending public events such as jubilees and funerals, as well as semi-private royal family events, such as the Sandringham Christmas service, with her sons.[13]

Marriage and children

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Sarah met Daniel Chatto during her years in India with her father in the 1980s. Chatto was working on another British film, Heat and Dust.[14] He is from a theatrical family, the son of actor Tom Chatto (1920–1982) and the theatrical agent Ros Chatto (born Rosalind Joan Thompson; died 2012).[15] He proposed to her with a "vintage cluster ring."[16]

The couple married on 14 July 1994;[17] the Reverend Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans, officiated at the wedding, held at St Stephen's, Walbrook in the City of London. The bride's wedding gown was designed by Jasper Conran.[14] Her bridesmaids were half-sister Lady Frances, Zara Phillips (daughter of her first cousin Princess Anne), and Tara Noble-Singh, a family friend.[14]

The couple have two sons:[18]

  • Samuel David Benedict Chatto (born 28 July 1996), 30th in the line of succession as of September 2025. He studied at Eton, and went on to study history of art at the University of Edinburgh, and works as a sculptor, based in West Sussex.[19] He also completed yoga teacher training in India.[20]
  • Arthur Robert Nathaniel Chatto (born 5 February 1999), 31st in the line of succession, and a former page of honour to Queen Elizabeth II, his great-aunt, from 2009 to 2015. He initially attended Westminster Cathedral Choir School before going to Eton College. He then studied geography at the University of Edinburgh, and at the same time worked as a personal trainer.[21][18] As of June 2022, he was serving with the Royal Marines.[22]
Coat of arms of Lady Sarah Chatto
Notes
Lady Sarah bears her father's arms on a lozenge. She is also entitled to use the coronet of a female-line grandchild of the sovereign
Coronet
Lady Sarah is entitled to use the coronet of a female-line grandchild of the sovereign.[23]
Escutcheon
Sable on a chevron argent, between in chief two fleurs-de-lis Or, and in base an eagle displayed Or, four pallets gules.

Notes

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References

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from Grokipedia
Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto (née Armstrong-Jones; born 1 May 1964) is a member of the British royal family as the only daughter of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. Born at Kensington Palace, she shares first cousins with King Charles III through her mother's sibling relationship to Queen Elizabeth II. In 1994, she married artist and former royal equerry Daniel Chatto in a private ceremony, with the couple residing in London and raising two sons: Samuel (born 1996) and Arthur (born 1999). Unlike working royals, Lady Sarah maintains a low public profile, focusing on private artistic endeavors as a painter while occasionally attending family events such as jubilees and state occasions; she holds vice-presidential roles at the Royal Ballet and Royal Drawing School, continuing her parents' patronage of the arts.

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Parentage

Sarah Frances Elizabeth Armstrong-Jones was born on 1 May 1964 at in , weighing approximately 6 pounds at birth. Her birth, the second for her parents, was announced publicly and marked her as seventh in line to the British throne at the time. She is the only daughter of Princess Margaret Rose, born 21 August 1930 as the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), who served as Countess of following her marriage. Princess Margaret's union with Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, born 7 March 1930 in London to barrister and opera singer Anne Messel (later Countess of Rosse), occurred on 6 May 1960 at in the first televised live. Armstrong-Jones, a society photographer of Anglo-Welsh descent who rose to prominence capturing aristocratic portraits, was elevated to the as 1st and Viscount Linley prior to the wedding, granting their children the of "Lady" or "Lord." As the younger sibling to David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones (later 2nd ), born 3 November 1961, Lady Sarah's parentage positioned her within the extended , though her father's commoner origins distinguished the Snowdon line from more direct Windsor succession branches. The of her parents, initially celebrated amid public fascination, later faced strains but produced no further children after Sarah's arrival.

Childhood and Parental Divorce

Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, later Lady Sarah Chatto, was born on 1 May 1964 at in as the second child and only daughter of , and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st . She grew up primarily at alongside her elder brother, David (later 2nd ), under the care of a , though both parents maintained an active presence in their daily lives. The family frequently visited royal residences such as Sandringham and Balmoral, where Sarah began developing an interest in amid the estates' surroundings. Her parents' marriage, which had been marked by mutual extramarital affairs and ongoing discord since its outset in 1960, deteriorated significantly by the mid-1970s. The couple formally separated on 19 March 1976, when Sarah was 11 years old, following years of public speculation about their incompatibilities. In the interim period, Sarah and her brother divided weekends between their parents' residences, spending time at her father's estate at in or her mother's apartment at in . The separation's turbulence extended into a contentious divorce process, finalized on 11 July 1978, when Sarah was 14. Contemporary accounts described the lead-up as a difficult and fractious period for the children, with Sarah reportedly shaken by the dissolution amid her mother's high-profile personal struggles. Despite the upheaval, family holidays to royal properties offered some continuity and solace during this time. Later reflections noted that Sarah weathered the parental divorce "remarkably well," maintaining privacy and focusing on her emerging artistic pursuits thereafter.

Education

Lady Sarah Chatto attended , a co-educational in , , where she focused on art and departed with a single qualification in the subject. She then enrolled at Camberwell School of Art in to pursue formal training in the . Following her time at Camberwell, she advanced her studies at the Royal Academy Schools, undertaking postgraduate-level instruction in painting. Certain accounts also reference additional coursework in printed textiles at Middlesex Polytechnic, though primary emphasis in biographical records remains on her pathway.

Artistic Career

Training at the Royal Academy

Lady Sarah Chatto, born Sarah Armstrong-Jones, pursued advanced artistic training at the Royal Academy Schools in following her foundational studies at Camberwell School of Art. She enrolled as a student at the Royal Academy Schools, completing an undergraduate diploma in fine arts. During her time there, Chatto demonstrated notable talent by winning the Winsor & Newton Prize in 1988, an award recognizing excellence among postgraduate students. She continued her studies from 1988 to 1991, earning a that emphasized practical skills in and under the guidance of academy tutors. This period marked her immersion in a rigorous program known for fostering professional artists through life drawing, studio practice, and critical feedback, culminating in her graduation in 1991. Chatto's training at the Royal Academy Schools equipped her with the technical proficiency that underpinned her subsequent career as a painter, focusing on portraiture and landscape works exhibited professionally thereafter. The institution's emphasis on traditional techniques aligned with her inherited artistic inclinations from her father, Antony Armstrong-Jones, while providing a merit-based environment detached from her royal background.

Professional Exhibitions and Awards

Lady Sarah Chatto received the Winsor & Newton Prize in 1988 while studying at the Royal Academy Schools, recognizing her skill in painting. She later won the Creswick Landscape Prize in 1990, awarded for excellence in landscape works submitted to academy competitions. Her paintings have appeared in group exhibitions at prestigious venues, including the Royal Academy's annual Summer Exhibition, where one of her works was selected for display in 2010. She submitted 60 paintings to the Royal Hibernian Academy's annual exhibition and multiple pieces to the Royal Academy in during her student years, demonstrating early professional engagement. Since 1995, Chatto has participated in numerous exhibitions, often featuring her landscapes and interiors, with representation by the Redfern Gallery in , which has hosted her works in shows such as its 2023 centennial exhibition and 2025 Summer Exhibition. Her output includes solo exhibitions, though specific venues and dates beyond gallery affiliations remain limited in public records. In a recent unnamed show, over 75% of her exhibited paintings sold, indicating market reception for her textured, evolving style.

Patronages in the Arts

Lady Sarah Chatto serves as President of , a position she assumed in May 2024 after holding the role of Vice President since 2004. In June 2024, she was appointed President of the Royal Ballet School, succeeding her cousin King Charles III and echoing her mother Princess Margaret's earlier presidency of the institution beginning in 1956. She was named President of Birmingham Royal Ballet on June 14, 2024, coinciding with King Charles III's appointment as the company's Patron. Chatto also holds the position of Patron of the Frederick Ashton Foundation, which preserves the choreographic works of the British ballet dancer and choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton. Additionally, she acts as Vice President of The Royal Drawing School, an institution dedicated to advancing drawing as a core artistic discipline. These roles underscore Chatto's longstanding support for ballet and organizations, aligning with her background as a trained painter while maintaining a low public profile in official capacities.

Personal Life

Marriage to Daniel Chatto

Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones first encountered , a British and former actor born on 22 April 1957 to actor Thomas Chatto and theatrical agent Rosalind Chatto, while serving as a wardrobe intern on the set of the Merchant Ivory film in during the early ; she had traveled there accompanying her father, Antony Armstrong-Jones, for a photographic assignment. Following their meeting, the couple maintained a relationship over the subsequent decade, culminating in their marriage on 14 July 1994 at St Stephen's, Walbrook, a compact 17th-century church in the designed by Sir . The ceremony was intentionally modest and private, accommodating around 200 guests rather than the larger scale typical of royal weddings, with attendees including Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, and select extended family members but excluding broader public spectacle. Sarah wore a gown designed by , complemented by a held by a floral , while Chatto, who had transitioned from roles—including portraying Prince Andrew in a 1982 television film—to , opted for traditional attire; the event's subdued nature aligned with the couple's shared artistic inclinations and preference for discretion away from intense media scrutiny.

Children and Private Family Dynamics

Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband, , have two sons: Samuel David Benedict Chatto, born on 28 July 1996 at the in , and Arthur Robert Nathaniel Chatto, born on 5 February 1999. The couple raised their children in a low-profile manner, emphasizing independence from royal titles and public obligations, with neither son using a despite their eligibility as grandchildren of Princess Margaret. Samuel Chatto, often known as Sam, has pursued a career in the arts as a potter and sculptor, operating his own studio and selling works through his personal website. He completed 200-hour teacher training in 2018 and has incorporated wellness practices into his professional life. Chatto has engaged in physical challenges and fitness, including a 38-day expedition around Britain in 2020 that raised £21,500 for the charity Street Child, and he has worked as a level 3 while studying geography at the . Both brothers occasionally appear at family gatherings, such as the annual Christmas walk to St. Church at Sandringham, but otherwise maintain limited public visibility. The Chatto family's dynamics prioritize privacy and self-reliance, with Sarah and Daniel fostering an environment shielded from media intrusion, contrasting with the more exposed lives of closer royals. This approach has allowed the sons to develop careers in creative and athletic fields without reliance on royal , reflecting a deliberate choice to integrate into broader society rather than court prominence. Public sightings of the family remain rare, typically confined to selective royal events, underscoring their commitment to a discreet domestic life.

Royal Connections and Public Role

Participation in Royal Events

Lady Sarah Chatto served as a at the wedding of her uncle, then-Prince Charles, to Lady Diana Spencer at on 29 July 1981. She attended the funeral of her uncle, , at , on 17 April 2021, accompanied by her husband, . Chatto also participated in the memorial service for Prince Philip at on 29 March 2022. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Chatto attended the lying-in-state procession viewing at on 14 September 2022. She was present with her husband and two sons at the Queen's state funeral at on 19 September 2022. Chatto attended the coronation of her cousin, King Charles III, at on 6 May 2023, wearing a ensemble by .

Relationship with Extended Family

Lady Sarah Chatto, as the daughter of Princess Margaret, maintained a notably close relationship with her aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, who reportedly adored her and permitted her to accompany her to the private retreat of Craigowan Lodge in , a privilege extended to few others. This bond was evident in Lady Sarah's visible distress during the Queen's lying-in-state at on 14 September 2022, where she was observed appearing distraught among the mourners. Queen Elizabeth II regarded Lady Sarah as a confidante, reflecting a personal affinity that contrasted with the more public tensions between the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret. With her first cousin, King Charles III—the only maternal first cousin alongside her brother, David Armstrong-Jones—Lady Sarah shares what is described as the closest relationship among the King's cousins, rooted in their shared upbringing and mutual interests such as painting. King Charles has publicly referenced this bond, including during a reception at St James's Palace on 24 June 2025, and they have appeared together at events like Royal Ascot on 18 June 2025, alongside Prince William. Lady Sarah served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of then-Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981, underscoring early familial ties. Lady Sarah also holds the role of godmother to Prince Harry, born 15 September 1984, indicating a longstanding connection to the younger generation of royals, though she has remained private about the specifics of their interactions. She has been seen publicly with Prince William at Royal Ascot in June 2025, suggesting ongoing cordial relations within the extended family. Overall, while Lady Sarah prioritizes privacy and avoids the spotlight—unlike some cousins such as Princes William and Harry—her ties to the senior royals remain warm and rooted in childhood proximity to Queen Elizabeth II, the , and their children.

Avoidance of Official Duties

Lady Sarah Chatto, unlike working members of the , has consistently eschewed official duties such as representing the monarch at public engagements or undertaking charitable patronages that involve formal representational roles. Her preference for privacy stems from a personal inclination toward a low-profile existence, prioritizing her career as an artist and family life over public obligations. This avoidance aligns with her upbringing and temperament; described by associates as shy and unassuming, Chatto has shown discomfort with the grandeur associated with royal pomp, opting instead for self-sufficiency through her painting exhibitions and independent pursuits. While she maintains informal ties to royal institutions—such as her vice-presidency of , inherited from her mother— these are limited to advisory or supportive capacities without the expectation of official appearances or diary commitments typical of working royals. Chatto's participation in royal life is confined to private family gatherings and occasional ceremonial attendances, such as weddings or jubilees, where she appears as a family member rather than in an official capacity. This deliberate reticence has been evident since her adulthood; for instance, despite her proximity to the (28th in line as of 2022), she has never sought nor accepted roles that would thrust her into the public eye, even amid discussions of streamlining the monarchy's working members. Her approach contrasts with cousins who have embraced public service, underscoring a personal choice for autonomy over inherited expectations.

References

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