Princess Eugenie has made her Instagram debut, becoming the first member of the royal family to launch a personal Instagram account in the process.
The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson joined the platform on 8th March to coincide with International Women’s Day with the handle @princesseugenie. And for her first post? A clip from Eugenie’s speech at the WE Day concert held at Wembley Arena last week, in which Eugenie spoke about her experiences with scoliosis
‘I can think of no better day than today, International Women’s Day, to launch my personal Instagram. I hope to use this platform to share the causes, passions and people close to my heart,’ she captioned the clip.
To date, Eugenie has amassed around 18.5 thousand followers, and has posted a handful of more personal snapshots which show a different side to royal life. First came a previously unpublished candid shot from her Buckingham Palace engagement photoshoot with fiancé Jack Brooksbank, in which the couple can be seen sharing a joke and laughing together (‘Think Jack said something funny,’ Eugenie’s caption reads). Then, for Mother’s Day, Eugenie paid tribute to her ‘legend of a mother’ Sarah Ferguson with a sweet throwback shot where the Duchess of York is carrying her two young daughters in her arms, both dressed in smocked sun-dresses that could be straight out of Princess Charlotte’s mini wardrobe.
Eugenie’s Instagram move is an unprecedented one: it’s previously been taken as a given that the royals would stay off social media, instead sharing news and photos through official accounts such as @KensingtonRoyal (for updates from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and now Meghan Markle), @ClarenceHouse (for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall) and @BuckinghamRoyal (for the Queen and all members of the Royal Family). Indeed, after shuttering her lifestyle blog The Tig in the earlier stages of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle has since entirely deleted her social media footprint ahead of the royal wedding in May. Could Eugenie’s blue tick encourage other royals to follow suit – by which we mean, could we see an official Prince George Instagram account in the next decade or so? Only time will tell, but our fingers remain firmly crossed.
NOW READ: A Definitive Ranking Of The Most Stylish Princesses In The World
A Definitive Ranking Of The Most Stylish Princesses In The World
1 of 99. Princess Elizabeth von Thurn und Taxis
As style editor-at-large of US Vogue, it's unsurprising that German journalist Princess Elizabeth von Thurn und Taxis made it onto this list. Although she has frequently courted controversy – not least for a few tasteless Instagram posts – there's no denying her innate sense of style, something which has seen her befriending some of the world's best designers and sitting on their front rows. Just one look at her Instagram is enough to make you want to go shopping – albeit on a tighter budget…
2 of 98. Princess Tatiana of Greece
If there's any royal family whose wardrobe we'd like to raid, it would definitely be the Greeks: after all, three of their number feature on this list. When Princess Tatiana married into the family she brought with her an enviably stylish pedigree: born in Venezuela but raised in Europe, she attended boarding school in Switzerland and lived in London, working at Diane von Furstenberg before her marriage, all of which contributed to her taste for exotic, refined things. Case in point is her wedding, which saw guests asked to wear kaftans and sandals rather than black tie. More comfortable in jeans and sneakers than she is in a ballgown, she's famously self-effacing about her title – but that doesn't stop her doing it with style.
3 of 97. Princess Charlene of Monaco
Before she joined one of the most famously stylish royal families in the world, Princess Charlene of Monaco was an Olympic swimmer for her native South Africa, with a body to match. With such an athletic build, she was obviously always going to look great in clothes, but her penchant for chic monochrome ensembles and her perennially elegant short hairstyle ensure she fits right in with the fashionable dynasty.
4 of 96. Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
With her own childrenswear brand and a position on a board at luxury conglomerate LVMH (the owners of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Givenchy) it's safe to say that Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece has a keen interest in all things sartorial. The British-born royal was working for Andy Warhol when she was set up on a blind date with the Crown Prince of Greece, with her wedding being one of the most glamorous of the '90s thanks to her exquisite high-neck Valentino gown. Indeed, she's good friends with the designer, whose clothes she often wears, while also being a regular on the front row at Dior.
5 of 95. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
Often compared to our own Duchess of Cambridge, the elegant, tall, brunette heir to the Swedish throne has a similar approach when it comes to fashion: wear local, recycle, and have a polished 'off-duty' wardrobe. This sartorial trifecta was seen in action on the monarch-to-be's recent trip to Japan: she wore Swedish designers Camilla Thulin, Stylein and Tiger of Sweden, as well as high street giant H&M, she sported Adidas Stan Smiths, and she rewore a favourite Elie Saab dress as well as a gown first worn by her mother in 1978. Talk about a hand-me-down.
6 of 94. Charlotte Casiraghi
When Grace Kelly is your grandmother, you're pretty much certain to inherit not just a great wardrobe but also an interest in fashion: chicness is in the genes. Eighth-in-line to the throne, Charlotte Casiraghi might not style herself as a princess, but she's certainly royal. A muse of Karl Lagerfeld, friend of Stella McCartney and collaborator with Gucci, she's definitely got the credentials – plus the wardroe - and we're really jealous of her holiday wardrobe.
7 of 93. Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece
She just celebrated her 21st birthday with a very risqué thigh-high split dress accessorised with Gucci trainers, so it's safe to say that despite her age Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece is already known for her daring style (the party theme? 'revolutionise your black tie') The daughter of another princess on our list, Princess Marie-Chantal, she has cleared inherited her mother's interest in clothes (she interned with the couture department aged 17), not to mention her enviable clothes-horse-esque body (she's modelled for the likes of Town & Country and Teen Vogue and walked for Dolce & Gabbana).
8 of 92. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Frequently voted the most stylish royal in the world, the Australian-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark certainly has a knack for dressing the part. In an age when some factions of the royal family are keen to emphasise their relatability, with reduced spending on designer wardrobes, Princess Mary's is unapologetically regal and glamorous. Known for championing young designers – wearing a floral Erdem gown for Norway's national celebrations last year – as well as patronising the old guard – with Valentino rockstuds and MaxMara wrap coats – you can tell she enjoys getting dressed in the morning, and we salute her for it.
9 of 91. Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand
If there were a prize for most enthusiastic fashionista on this list, the Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand would undoubtedly get the title. As it is, she's been crowned Most Stylish Princess In The World instead. A regular on the front row at couture, a designer in her own right (she showed in Paris a few seasons ago) and with a wardrobe that boasts pieces by Chanel, Balmain and Hermes, shrinking violet and modest style maven she is not. Unafraid to experiment with more out there, non-princessy looks – including exaggerated shoulders, leather and tuxedos - she's definitely changing the face of modern royal fashion.