Princess Eugenie has spoken out about her ‘fitting’ new role as a mentor for young ‘changemakers’ with King Charles’ charity The King’s Foundation and its new 35 under 35 network
Princess Eugenie spoke of her delight after being handed a key new role with a cause close to the King’s heart.
It has been revealed that Eugenie, King Charles’ niece, has become a mentor for The King’s Foundation charity’s new 35 under 35 network of changemakers.
The princess visited the Garrison Chapel, the London exhibition space of the monarch’s charity, last week to meet some of the group.
The 35 under 35 have been brought together in the foundation’s 35th anniversary year to promote the change the King wants to see globally across sustainability, traditional crafts and the arts. And Eugenie, who is also a director at Hauser & Wirth contemporary gallery, said she was looking forward to sharing her passion for art.
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The princess said: “I’m delighted to be working with this group of exceptional young people who have been selected thanks to their outstanding work in areas the King is passionate about.
“Given I recently celebrated my 35th birthday, it’s fitting to take part in the charity’s 35th anniversary celebrations and share my passion for art with the 35 under 35.” She also praised the selection of young creatives for their “outstanding work in areas the King is passionate about”.
Other mentors include designer Samuel Ross, artist and influencer Sophie Tea Art, and historian Alice Loxton, who has millions of followers on social media as @history_alice.
The list of 35 under 35 includes woodworker Eli Baxter, embroiderer Angelica Ellis, basketmaker Florence Hamer, stonemason Freya de Lisle, milliner Barnaby Horn, painter Jo Rance, and environmental filmmaker Jack Harries.
This week, Eugenie was specially invited to the Buckingham Palace garden party by the Prince and Princess of Wales, after they requested she and Zara Tindall accompany them.
It is the second year running that William has called on his cousins to support him in hosting a party for the King.
Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror it is a refreshing change having the likes of Eugenie get involved.
She said: “The younger royals are easy in conversation and highly relatable. They’re the sort of people you feel you can have a giggle with – and that makes all the inevitable nerves for people attending a royal event quickly disappear into thin air.
“And I think this is indeed the way things will happen in future. The cousins are a close and affectionate band of youngish mums and dads with lots in common. I don’t think any of them are hankering after an official role as a working royal, but they are more than happy to help out their cousin whenever he asks.
“It strikes me as the perfect compromise between expanding the core group of working royals – with the extra cost to taxpayers that would entail – –and having a slimmed down monarchy which is just too small to cope.”