A day in the life Princess Eugenie of York

The spirited, art-loving young royal juggles her family obligations with a very modern career.

- Laura Brown

Eugenie of York is sitting in the TV room of her family home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park. It’s the definition of “comfy cosy”, with family pictures scattered around and Norfolk terriers wandering in and out. Eugenie, 26, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, has just completed a shoot for Harper’s BAZAAR. During the week, however, she lives in London and works as an associate director at the contemporary art gallery, Hauser & Wirth. Before returning to London in 2015, she spent two years in New York with the online auction house Paddle8. Art is in Eugenie’s bones as much as the monarchy.

6:45AM I read my personal e-mails when I wake up. My mum always says, “What’s the point of rolling straight out of bed and looking at your e-mails? It can ruin the first few hours of your morning. If you just wait…” But I really can’t! I go to the park from 7 to 8AM. I do circuits, which I love because they’re quick: Burpees, squat jumps, lunges, the whole lot. I can’t run for a long time. Or I go with my best friend to this amazing, women-only gym called Grace Belgravia. If I need to pick up groceries, I go to Waitrose, right next to my gym. In the morning class, I can smell the fresh croissants coming in and I’m like, “Don’t do this to me!”

8:15AM I come home, have a shower, get dressed. My first conversation is often with Mum, “Good morning, what are you doing today?” Or it’s with my boyfriend, Jack. Sometimes I don’t speak until I get in to work. Or it’s my doggie Jack—yes, my boyfriend and my dog have the same name, total accident!—if you can call that a conversation. [Laughs]