'A splendid baby, very hearty': How Samuel Chatto was described by his grandfather Lord Snowdon after he was born 28 years ago today - and Princess Margaret's first grandchild is now an arts-obsessed ceramicist
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A quieter figure in the royal family and 29th in line to the throne, he is more likely to be found in a ceramic studio than at a regal event.
However, Samuel Chatto was at the centre of things in June when he attended the State Banquet held at Buckingham Palace for Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Emperess Masako.
The talented ceramist, who turns 28 today, was a fitting choice for the occasion, for he completed an apprenticeship in Japan under professional potter Yagi Akira just last year.
He is in a relationship with fellow Edinburgh University graduate Eleanor Ekserdjian, who is also an artist.
Princess Margaret's first grandson was born on July 28, 1996 at Portland Hospital - where Sarah Ferguson gave birth to Princess Beatrice and Eugenie - in London.
Princess Margaret's first grandchild Sam Chatto, pictured in his ceramics studio, turns 28 today
Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto pictured with sons Arthur and Sam at Goodwood House in 2015
He weighed 7lb 12oz and was the Queen Mother's seventh great-grandchild.
His grandfather Lord Snowdon, Princess Margaret's former husband, said at the time: 'Everyone is absolutely thrilled. He is a splendid baby and very hearty.
'Sarah is very well but very tired. I have spoken to Princess Margaret and she will be going in to see Sarah quite soon.'
The eldest child of Lady Sarah Chatto and actor turned artist Daniel Chatto, Sam grew up mostly away from the royal spotlight in Kensington, London.
As his grandmother once said about his mother and uncle: 'My children aren't royal, they just happen to have the Queen as an aunt.'
His parents wed 30 years ago but not all of the focus was on the happy couple when they married in the quaint St Stephen Walbrook Church in London on July 14, 1994.
Sam and his girlfriend Eleanor Ekserdjian were snapped together at Tatler's Little Black Book party in November 2022
Sam, pictured with his parents, was born at Portland Hospital on July 28, 1996
The 28-year-old was the Queen Mother's seventh great-grandson. Above: In his christening gown in his great-grandmother's lap
Sam recently attended the State Banquet held at Buckingham Palace for Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Emperess Masako
Lady Sarah and Sam pictured attending the Christmas Day morning service at Sandringham Church in 2008
Daniel, 13-year-old Sam and Lady Sarah pictured at the Opening of Parliament in 2010
Sam pictured left with his family at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester in 2012
His father, Daniel, met Lady Sarah on the film Heat and Dust in India in 1982 at the GB Row Challenge, London, August 2020
The Daily Mail's coverage of Samuel Chatto's birth
Another clipping, from December 1996, featuring photos of Sam as an infant
Because, just two weeks earlier, Prince Charles had confessed to adultery on national television - on the same night Princess Diana wowed in the outfit that became known as the 'Revenge Dress'.
Diana and Charles, who had formally separated two years earlier, arrived 45 seconds apart and did not speak to each other during the ceremony.
Lady Sarah and Daniel met on the film Heat and Dust in India in 1982 and fittingly spent their honeymoon in India too.
Like many of his royal relatives - including younger brother Arthur and Princes William and Harry - Sam was sent to Eton College when he was 11 years old.
Sam, whose mother is a professional artist, fittingly went on to study a History of Art degree at Edinburgh University.
After a three-month stint in commercial art marketing, he channeled his creativity into ceramics.
He has a studio in West Sussex and his work has been displayed in several exhibitions.
Sam is also a qualified yoga instructor - having trained for six weeks in India with then-girlfriend Sophie Pipe, who also studied at Edinburgh University.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2019, he said: 'I'm working in clay to create functional and sculptural wood-fired ceramics from my home and studio in West Sussex.
Lady Sarah married Daniel at St Stephen Walbrook Church, London, on July 14, 1994
Younger brother Arthur with Sam and their parents attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, September 2022
Sam pictured with his cousin, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, at the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II at St George's Chapel, Windsor, September 2022
After a three-month stint in commercial art marketing, Samuel now channels his creativity into his ceramics studio in West Sussex and his work has been displayed in several exhibitions
Samuel has posted photos of his pottery work on social media
Samuel Chatto's Instagram post announcing the launch of his website
'I've always had a strong affinity with creating objects, having spent much of my childhood crafting imagined landscapes and sculptural models, which naturally led me to clay during my later years at school.
'My creative practice took a back seat while I studied History of Art at Edinburgh, but was revived, in the summer of 2017, by a visit to North Shore Pottery [in Caithness].
'Inspired by what I had seen in Scotland, and completely uninspired by my three-month job in the commercial art market, I spent my weekends setting up a small home studio to rediscover my creativity and built a wood-fired kiln at the bottom of my garden.
'The decision to start selling my work comes from a strong belief in the power of beautiful, well-made objects to enrich and enhance our lives.'
After splitting up with Sophie, who is now a gardener, he found romance with Ms Ekserdjian, who is the daughter of an art professor.
An artist herself, she has collaborated on a project with Sam, who has also featured as the subject of some of her work.
The pair were snapped together at Tatler's Little Black Book party in November 2022.
Aside from his pottery vocation, Sam is also a qualified yoga instructor
Lady Sarah, husband Daniel, Eleanor and Sam pictured together at a summer party & fundraiser for the National Gallery's Bicentenary campaign in 2022
In April this year Sam was seen working away at a pottery wheel in an Instagram video, which appeared to have been taken in Sasama, Japan
Sam has also shared his close relationship with his younger brother Arthur on social media.
He posted a picture of the pair on the day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 and wrote: 'I love you bro (and I'm not just saying that cos you're so big you could squish me).'
More recently, in April this year Sam was seen working away at a pottery wheel in an Instagram video, which appeared to have been taken in Sasama, Japan.
The footage was captured by artist Kazuaki Sakuma, who said in the caption: 'All you can hear is birds singing in this studio. A tea tree about to turn into a gentle butterfly before my eyes.
'And the artists from London spinning the sounds.'
