Princess Beatrice, known for her philanthropic efforts, recently made a heartwarming surprise appearance at an art exhibition held at Christie’s in London.
The event was especially significant for 9-year-old Poppy Blackburn, who has been battling leukemia since the tender age of three. Throughout her years of treatment, Poppy found solace in art, and it was her dream to showcase her creations in an exhibition. Thanks to Make-A-Wish UK and Art of Wishes, Poppy's dream became a reality, making her the youngest artist ever to exhibit at Christie’s in London.
Photographs captured from the exhibition revealed a touching moment when Princess Beatrice surprised the young artist. Dressed impeccably in an all-black ensemble, Princess Beatrice's chic outfit included a tweed jacket from Zara and beige ballerina pumps from Chanel. However, what caught the eye was her elegant black satin pleated skirt from Misha Nonoo, a close friend of none other than Meghan Markle. Interestingly, Meghan herself owns the same black satin pleated skirt and was spotted wearing it on September 20, 2018, during the launch of a cookbook featuring recipes from women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. The connection between Princess Beatrice and Meghan Markle's fashion choice sparked intrigue among royal enthusiasts.
Princess Beatrice's friendship with Misha Nonoo dates back several years. She attended Nonoo's first wedding to Alexander Gilkes in 2012, alongside her sister, Princess Eugenie. It's believed that Beatrice's association with Nonoo stems from Gilkes' close ties with Prince Harry. Alexander Gilkes, a friend of Harry's from Eton, even attended the wedding of Prince William and Princess Catherine in 2011. The connection between Nonoo, Gilkes, and the royal family deepened with Meghan Markle's involvement. Meghan's friendship with Misha Nonoo has a rich history; the two met through a mutual friend in Miami and quickly formed a strong bond, initially connecting over their shared passion for charity work. Nonoo once expressed her admiration for Meghan, saying, "I love her to death. She's the coolest girl in the world."
In addition, Harry and Meghan have received advice on royal duties from unexpected quarters—Prince Harry's cousins, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Zara Tindall. Royal expert Richard Palmer, speaking with Mail Plus, highlighted how Beatrice, Eugenie, and Zara are setting an example for Harry and Meghan and supporting the royal family amid King Charles's need for his son's support. Harry's focus has been on establishing himself in the United States with Meghan Markle, and in his absence, his cousins have stepped up. Palmer praised the princesses for their willingness to contribute and support the royal family, even though they are not full-time working royals.
Reflecting on Beatrice, Eugenie, Zara, and Mike Tindall's assistance to Prince William at a recent garden party at Buckingham Palace, Palmer said it was a timely demonstration of how the other royals can play their part. While none of the cousins are likely to become taxpayer-funded working royals, they have shown that they can step in occasionally to support the institution. He added that if Harry and Meghan hadn't stepped back from royal duties in 2020, they would have been crucial figures during this challenging time, and others who are now in the spotlight might not even have had a role. In fact, the cousins' approach could certainly teach Harry and Meghan, who are comfortable and settled in their California mansion, a thing or two about royal duty and support.
