They’ve been together for two years, but only now has all attention turned to Isabelle de la Bruyère, the partner of David Armstrong-Jones, King Charles III’s only first cousin. Armstrong-Jones, the son of Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, inherited the title of Earl of Snowdon, which was created by Queen Elizabeth II. He has traditionally been one of the most private members of the wider Windsor circle.
Until this year. Her appearance in the royal carriage procession at Royal Ascot has thrust the French executive into the spotlight, placing her firmly on the radar of the British royal family.
© Getty ImagesDavid Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, and Isabelle de la Bruyère arrive in the royal carriage procession at Royal Ascot 2026 on June 18.
© Getty ImagesThe History of the Snowdon Title and Its Place in the Windsor Family
© Getty ImagesBorn at Clarence House in November 1961 and baptized at Buckingham Palace, the current Earl of Snowdon entered the world under unusual circumstances: his mother had married a man without a noble title. To ensure that a grandson of King George VI would not be born without aristocratic rank, Queen Elizabeth II created the titles Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley just one month before his birth.
The Earl of Snowdon was invited to occupy the seat of highest honor, alongside his first cousin King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesEducated at some of Britain’s most prestigious schools, David Armstrong-Jones quickly steered his career toward the arts and fine woodworking. He studied at Parnham College, renowned for training master furniture makers, and later founded his own company, Linley, specializing in bespoke furniture, upholstery, and interior design.
© Getty ImagesHe also served as chairman of Christie’s in London, a connection that helps explain his relationship with Isabelle de la Bruyère. She worked at the auction house from 1998 to 2023 before being named CEO of Opera Gallery Group, an international network of modern and contemporary art galleries with locations in London, Paris, New York, Dubai, Seoul, Singapore, Madrid, and Monaco.
This isn’t the first time they’ve attended Ascot together, but never before with such prominence during their two-year relationship.
How They Met: The Professional Connection That Brought Snowdon and De la Bruyère Together
An expert in 19th- and 20th-century art, De la Bruyère moved to London in 1998 while working as a research associate for the Impressionist department at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. At Christie’s, she specialized in Impressionist and Modern art before going on to lead the auction house’s Ottoman and Orientalist art sales.
© Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty IHer expertise took her to Dubai in 2008, where she played a key role in Christie’s expansion across the Middle East. Her work involved extensive travel throughout the region and contributed to the development of the company’s presence there following the opening of its first Dubai office in 2005.
With Zara Tindall and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
Although British media date the beginning of the relationship to the summer of 2024—and she was already seen with him at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot—this year’s appearance suggests a full public acknowledgment of their relationship.
© Getty ImagesThe couple rode in the royal carriage procession alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla, a gesture that carries the highest level of institutional visibility. Later, they were seen together in the Royal Enclosure, where she appeared completely at ease in the traditional racing atmosphere.
Why Isabelle’s Presence at Ascot Marks a Turning Point
Another sign that the relationship is becoming more established came on June 6, when she attended Peter Phillips’s second wedding to Harriet Sperling, effectively making her debut within the royal family’s inner social circle.
© WireImageIsabelle de la Bruyère with Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon’s daughter, arriving at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling on June 6, 2026.
It remains to be seen whether the Earl of Snowdon will follow the family trend of second marriages. It’s worth remembering that his mother, Princess Margaret, was the first member of the House of Windsor to divorce, and that Princess Anne later proved there can indeed be a second chance at love—with a wedding to match.
© Getty ImagesArmstrong-Jones announced his separation from Serena Alleyne Stanhope in February 2020, ending a marriage that began in 1993 and drew guests including Diana, Princess of Wales, Elton John, the Aga Khan, and Constantine of Greece.
© Getty ImagesThe former couple share two children: Viscount Charles, 26, and Lady Margarita, who recently turned 24. Isabelle de la Bruyère arrived alongside Lady Margarita at Peter Phillips’s second wedding.
© WireImage
