Following in the footsteps of her royal relatives, including Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla, Princess Eugenie will star in a new documentary.
My National Gallery, which premieres on television on December 30, will celebrate 200 years since the institution first opened its doors in 1824 through interviews with its staff and famous visitors, including Claudia Winkleman, Michael Palin and, Of course, Eugenie.
A photo of York’s younger sister, 34, was released before the show aired on ITV1.
Smiling for the camera, the princess wears a teal coat and a silver pendant necklace and completes her look with simple gold earrings.
With her chestnut tresses in elegant waves, she stands next to a work of art that particularly resonates with her: Antonio de Correggio’s Madonna with a Basket.
In a social media post earlier this year, the second daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson promoted the documentary and explained why she is in love with this particular painting.
“I’m Eugenie and I work at Hauser & Wirth, a contemporary gallery in London,” she said in the clip. “I have chosen Correggio Madonna of the Basket and it is from 1524. I see many similarities between this and my life.”
In the documentary, Eugenie explains that she has always liked art. She said: “I did art at school, I always wanted to be an artist.”
A photo of Princess Eugenie, 34, was released before My National Gallery aired on ITV1 on December 30.
Eugenie now works for the London-based art gallery Hauser & Wirth, where she has been director since 2017.
The princess continues: “I remember going to the National Gallery and just sitting and drawing and now when I go through a gallery I see all the young people doing that and I think, ‘I used to do that.’
“I wish I could find my drawings from those times when I was a student right up front studying, watching and learning everything about history and art.”
After leaving her boarding school in Wiltshire, Eugenie completed a BA in English Literature and Art History at Newcastle University, graduating with a 2:1 degree in 2012.
Painted around 1524, Eugenia’s chosen artwork, The Virgin of the Basket, depicts the Virgin Mary with Christ on her lap.
The restless boy’s arms are extended in a way that experts believe foreshadows his crucifixion. Joseph can also be seen in the background working at his trade as a carpenter.
A description from the National Gallery says: ‘The simple house of the holy family has been built alongside grandiose ruins, a symbol of the new faith arising from the remains of pagan antiquity.
“The image is a soft harmony of gray roses and gray blues with the soft smoky quality that Correggio is famous for.”
Princess Eugenie says in the documentary that she used to visit the National Gallery when she was a child and that she would like to find her old drawings.
Painted around 1524, The Virgin of the Basket depicts the Virgin Mary with Christ on her lap.
Princess Eugenie said she saw “similarities” between the painting and her own life as a mother to her sons August (pictured right), three, and Ernest (pictured left), one.
Listing the similarities between her own life and the artwork, Eugenie said: ‘I just had a second child and my little baby is 10 months old. Correggio is painting a very domestic scene. This is a normal domestic family.
“Who knows the journey it has taken, how it came to us, but it is here and we can admire it.”
The princess has two sons, August and Ernest, with her husband Jack Brooksbank.
In early December, she shared sweet photos of her children spending time with their grandmother, the Duchess of York, during a festive weekend outing.
Eugenie documented her trip to Windsor Great Illuminated Park on Instagram, as the young royal announced that everyone was looking forward to the countdown to Christmas.
Photographs and videos of their visit showed Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson, affectionately known as Fergie, pointing out different attractions to August, three, and Ernest, one, while the children seemed delighted with their surroundings.
Eugenie captioned the post: “The start of the Christmas countdown was made even more magical this year by spending some time with Grandma and Mom at Windsor Illuminated.
“I’d love to know what festive things you do,” the princess addressed her followers, before tagging Fergie.
While Eugenie wore a black puffer coat, Fergie wore a bright red jacket emblazoned with the message “Educate a Girl, Change the World” on the back.
My National Gallery, London is an Exhibitions on Screen production and was first shown in UK cinemas in June 2024. It will premiere on television on Friday 20 December at 10.20pm on ITV1 and STV.