A prominent international art gallery, where Princess Eugenie serves as a director, is facing a criminal charge in the United Kingdom for an alleged breach of sanctions against Russia. The development has drawn unwelcome attention to the royal, with sources indicating she has become the subject of private commentary within palace circles.
The gallery, Hauser & Wirth, was charged with making a luxury good available to “a person connected with Russia.” The specific allegation involves the sale of a painting by American artist George Condo to a collector in 2022, a period after strict sanctions were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The regulations prohibit the supply of luxury goods, including high-value artwork, to Russian entities or individuals.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the case scheduled for a pre-trial hearing. A spokesperson for the gallery stated they “strongly contest this charge and intend to plead not guilty,” emphasizing the company’s commitment to legal compliance.
Princess Eugenie, who has worked at the gallery since 2015, is not a board member and is reported to have no connection to the specific transaction in question. Nevertheless, the situation has sparked comparisons to the controversies that have long surrounded her parents, the Duke and Duchess of York. Both have been embroiled in separate, high-profile scandals in recent years.
Sources close to the princess describe her as frustrated by the association, maintaining she has done nothing wrong. “She’s embarrassed by all the chatter, but she’s staying focused,” commented one associate.
The case underscores the serious legal ramifications of breaching international sanctions, which have led to several prosecutions and prison sentences in the UK. The outcome of the gallery’s court proceedings will be closely watched.
