If you look at the balcony of Buckingham Palace during any major royal event, you’ll usually see her. Lady Sarah Chatto is the one in the elegant, understated hat, standing slightly back, looking like she’d rather be at home with a paintbrush than under a spotlight. She’s famously the late Queen Elizabeth’s favorite niece. People love her because she’s low-key. But when you start digging into the world of Lady Sarah Chatto siblings, things get a lot more interesting—and a bit more crowded—than just the immediate royal circle you see on TV.
Most people think she only has one brother. David Armstrong-Jones, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon. That’s the official version. But the reality of the Armstrong-Jones family tree is messy, complicated, and very, very 1960s.
The Core Duo: Sarah and David
Basically, Sarah and David are the "official" pair. They were the children of Princess Margaret and the celebrity photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. Growing up in Kensington Palace in the 60s and 70s wasn't your typical royal childhood. While their cousins—Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward—were being raised with a very specific kind of Windsor rigidity, Margaret and Tony brought a bohemian, artistic energy to the nursery.
David was born in 1961. Sarah followed in 1964. They were tight. Still are.
Honestly, the bond between these two was forged in the fire of their parents' famously volatile marriage. Margaret and Tony loved each other passionately, but they fought even harder. By the time they divorced in 1978—the first major royal divorce since Henry VIII, or at least the first one that really rocked the modern era—Sarah and David had become each other's support system. David went on to become a world-class furniture maker (LINLEY), while Sarah focused on her career as a professional painter.
They share that artistic DNA. You can see it in Sarah’s work, which is moody and textural, and in David’s high-end craftsmanship. They aren't "working royals" in the sense that they take a paycheck from the Sovereign Grant. They have real jobs. That’s a huge distinction.
The Half-Siblings You Didn't Know About
Here’s where it gets complicated. Antony Armstrong-Jones, the 1st Earl of Snowdon, was a complicated man. To put it mildly. He didn't just have children with Princess Margaret.
If you're looking for the full list of Lady Sarah Chatto siblings, you have to look at Tony's life outside the palace walls.
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Polly Fry: This is the one that shocked the headlines decades later. Polly was born just weeks into Tony’s marriage to Princess Margaret in 1960. For years, she was raised as the daughter of Jeremy Fry. It wasn’t until 2004 that a DNA test confirmed Tony was her biological father. Sarah and David suddenly had an older half-sister they hadn't grown up with.
Lady Frances von Hofmannsthal: After Tony and Margaret finally called it quits, Tony married Lucy Lindsay-Hogg in 1978. They had a daughter, Frances, in 1979. Unlike the situation with Polly, Frances grew up as an "official" member of the Snowdon family. Sarah and Frances are actually quite close. You’ll often see Frances at the same art gallery openings as Sarah.
Jasper Cable-Alexander: In the late 90s, while Tony was still married to Lucy, he fathered a son with journalist Melanie Cable-Alexander. Jasper was born in 1998.
So, Sarah isn’t just a sister of one. She is part of a sprawling, modern, slightly chaotic web of five siblings in total. It’s a mix of royal protocol and Chelsea bohemianism.
Why the Snowdon Siblings Stay Out of the Tabloids
You’ve gotta wonder why we don’t hear more about them. Why aren't they in the tabloids every week like the Sussexes or the Waleses?
It’s intentional.
Sarah Chatto, in particular, is the gold standard for how to be "royal adjacent." She’s a professional. When she’s at a royal funeral or a coronation, she’s there as family, not as a celebrity. This discretion is exactly why the Queen adored her. There’s a famous story—well, more of an observation by royal courtiers—that Sarah was the only person the Queen could truly relax with. They would sit together, gossiping about gardening or art, away from the "Firm's" business.
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David is the same. While he’s had his share of headlines (mostly regarding his own divorce or his business), he doesn't sell stories. The Lady Sarah Chatto siblings share a specific philosophy: keep your head down, do your work, and show up for the family when it counts.
The Artistic Legacy of the Armstrong-Jones Line
If you look at the work Sarah and David produce, it’s clear they inherited their father’s eye. Tony was a visionary photographer. He saw the world through a lens. Sarah sees it through a brush. David sees it through the grain of wood.
Sarah’s paintings aren't just "hobby" art. She wins awards. She’s won the Winsor & Newton Prize and the Nordstern Art Prize. She doesn't use the "Lady" title to get into galleries; she signs her work as Sarah Chatto. Most people walking through a gallery in London might not even realize they’re looking at the work of a woman who is 28th in line to the throne.
This artistic streak extends to their half-sister Frances, who has worked in the fashion and design world. It seems the Snowdon blood is much stronger than the Windsor blood when it comes to creativity. The Windsors are about duty and tradition; the Snowdons are about creating something new.
Comparing the "Official" vs. "Private" Family
It’s kind of wild to think about the contrast between Sarah’s life with David and her relationship with her other siblings.
With David, everything is public record. Their christenings were televised. Their childhood was documented by their father. They are part of the British State’s history.
With Polly Fry or Jasper Cable-Alexander, it’s a different world. It’s a world of private DNA tests, quiet recognitions, and the complex emotions that come with being a "secret" child of a famous man. Yet, by all accounts, Sarah handles this with the same grace she brings to everything else. There’s no public feuding. No "tell-all" books.
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Key Facts About the Snowdon Family Tree:
- Antony Armstrong-Jones had children with three different women (that we know of).
- Princess Margaret only had two children: David and Sarah.
- Polly Fry is the oldest, born in 1960.
- Jasper Cable-Alexander is the youngest, born in 1998.
- Lady Sarah Chatto remains the bridge between these different worlds, maintaining a high status in the Royal Family while acknowledging her broader family tree.
What Most People Get Wrong About Lady Sarah Chatto Siblings
The biggest misconception is that they are all "royals." They aren't.
Only David and Sarah hold titles derived from their father’s Earldom and their mother’s status as a Princess. Polly and Jasper do not have royal titles. Frances has the title "Lady" because she was born to Tony while he was an Earl.
Another mistake? Assuming they all grew up together.
Sarah and David were raised in the heart of the monarchy. They had tea with the Queen Mother. They spent Christmases at Sandringham. The half-siblings had very different experiences. Polly Fry grew up thinking she was someone else entirely. Jasper grew up in the 2000s, long after the Margaret-Tony era had faded into history.
Despite these gaps in age and upbringing, the "Snowdon" identity seems to be the glue. They all share that sharp, slightly rebellious streak that Antony Armstrong-Jones was famous for.
Actionable Insights: Understanding the Modern Royal Family Tree
If you're trying to keep track of the British royals, especially the extended family, here is how you should categorize the Lady Sarah Chatto siblings and their place in the world:
- Study the Snowdon Divorce (1978): To understand Sarah and David, you have to understand the split. It defined their childhood and their need for privacy.
- Look at the Professional Output: Don't just read about them; look at Sarah Chatto's paintings or David Linley's furniture. It tells you more about them than any "source close to the palace" ever could.
- Follow the Art Galleries, Not the Tabloids: If you want to see what Sarah is up to, check the Redfern Gallery in London. That’s her world.
- Recognize the "Inner Circle": Sarah Chatto is often cited as a model for "minor" royals. Her ability to maintain a close relationship with King Charles III while keeping her siblings—both royal and non-royal—out of the line of fire is a masterclass in family diplomacy.
The story of the siblings isn't just a list of names. It’s a reflection of a massive shift in the British aristocracy—from the rigid, hidden scandals of the past to a more open, albeit complicated, modern reality. Whether it's David at a royal coronation or Polly Fry discovering her true heritage in her 40s, the Snowdon legacy is anything but boring.
To really get the vibe of this family, you have to look past the silk dresses and the balcony photos. You have to look at the messy, artistic, human reality of a father who lived a huge life and the children who had to navigate the aftermath. Sarah Chatto sits at the center of that, the quietest person in the room, but arguably the one who understands the complexity of the modern monarchy better than anyone.