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Britain’s arty royals: move over Prince Charles, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, singer-songwriter ‘Ella Windsor’ is now on Spotify – but who is behind the stage name?

Lady Gabriella Windsor, aka singer Ella Windsor. Photo: @eugeniagaravani/Instagram
British royals have been known for their creative talents in the past – Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton are skilled photographers, Prince Charles is an artist, plays the cello and was an avid stage actor in his university days, Meghan Markle is a skilled calligrapher, and many more have written books. So it shouldn’t be a complete surprise when a royal breaks into the music industry.
Lady Gabriella Windsor’s Wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor 2019. Photo: windsor.royal.family/Instagram
Queen Elizabeth’s cousin once removed, Lady Gabriella Windsor, made news in May 2019 when she married financier Thomas Kingston at St George’s Chapel, Windsor – the same church where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married. The queen and Prince Philip were both in attendance.

But this year, Lady Gabriella Windsor is making waves as a singer-songwriter; writing and recording a collection of digital songs released last month.

Now a singer-songwriter – Lady Ella Windsor. Photo: @luisabeccaria_luworld/Instagram

The daughter of the queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent and 52nd in line to the throne, Gabriella is using the name Ella Windsor in her music career. Friends of the family have known about her singing talents for a while, as she got up on stage to sing with the band at her wedding reception last year.

In the audience were Hollywood stars including Anne Hathaway, a moment she recalled to Hello! magazine, saying that “it was a day of nerve-racking moments, so why not throw this one in, too”. The 39-year-old also told them that she has always loved music but never imagined she would release her own songs.

Two of her bossa nova-style tracks, Out of Blue and Bam Bam, have been released on iTunes and Spotify with the aim of raising awareness and funds for Playing for Change Foundation, on whose board she sits. The non-profit promotes positive change through music throughout the world.

Music is not Ella’s only creative talent: she was also a freelance writer for publications that included London’s Evening Standard.

Lady Gabriella Windsor's wedding photo with the royal family and friends. Photo: @theroyalfamily/Instagram

Ella grew up at Kensington Palace. She graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, with a BA degree in comparative literature and Hispanic studies, and in 2012 she earned a MPhil degree in social anthropology at the University of Oxford’s Linacre College.

She stays pretty much out of the royal spotlight but occasionally appears on the Buckingham Palace balcony at special events.

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Royalty

After marriage in front of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at St George’s Chapel, Windsor – where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married – she sang at a reception in front of royals and Hollywood celebs including Anne Hathaway