David Armstrong-Jones, the Second Earl of Snowdon, made an uncommon public outing to Highgrove this week, where he engaged with aspiring furniture makers at a specialist summer programme.
The 63-year-old royal, who is King Charles III's first cousin and the eldest offspring of the late Princess Margaret, visited participants of the six-day Snowdon Summer School dedicated to furniture craftsmanship.
The appearance marks a notable public engagement for the typically private royal figure.
David observed students as they worked on design sketches for their furniture projects, demonstrating his continued involvement in the craft that has defined much of his professional life.
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|The Second Earl of Snowdon has made a rare appearance at Highgrove
The King's Foundation and Highgrove House formally acknowledged the visit through social media channels.
"Lord Snowdon visited us at Highgrove earlier this week and met the students taking part in our six-day Snowdon Summer School for furniture makers," they said.
Eight participants successfully completed the intensive programme, drawing creative inspiration from Highgrove's gardens for their designs.
The course emphasised sustainable practices, incorporating British timber, traditional crafting methods and environmentally conscious materials.
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|The Earl is the eldest child of Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones
David developed his enthusiasm for craftsmanship during his formative years, establishing David Linley Furniture Ltd after completing his education.
The enterprise, which now operates under the name Linley, reflects his enduring commitment to design excellence.
He credits his late grandmother, the Queen Mother, alongside his father, as instrumental figures who nurtured his creative pursuits.
The Earl is the eldest of Princess Margaret's two children with British photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who married the royal in 1960 and divorced in 1978.
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|David oversaw a class of the Snowdon Summer School dedicated to furniture craftsmanship
Speaking to Vanity Fair, he recounted crafting a wooden box that earned his teacher's admiration.
"So I thought I'd give it to my grandmother, because she always encouraged my sister and me. And she said, 'Oh, it's lovely, darling. Did you make that?' I said, 'Yes I did,'" he recalled.
The Queen Mother subsequently repurposed it as a cigar box during social gatherings.
"It came around as the cigar box after lunch, and it had Turkish cigarettes on one side and cigars on the other. I just thought it was such a lovely thing she did. She was actually not offering people cigars. She was showing my work in a very subtle way," he explained.
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|David has been seen alongside Isabelle de la Bruyère during recent royal events
David's personal life has attracted renewed attention following his public debut with Isabelle de la Bruyère at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
The couple are believed to have connected through Christie's auction house, where the Earl serves as honorary chairman.
De la Bruyère previously held the position of client advisory and international senior director for the chairman's office, covering Middle Eastern operations at Christie's, as reported by Tatler.
She has since transitioned to become chief executive of Opera Art Gallery in 2024, maintaining her base in London.