Who is Lucy van Straubenzee? Princess Charlotte’s former teacher who married William’s lifelong friend and is now on Tatler’s best dressed list

Since marrying the godfather of her pupil Princess Charlotte, Lucy van Straubenzee has become a well-known figure at royal events.

The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly introduced the then Miss Lanigan-O’Keeffe to Thomas van Straubenzee, a lifelong friend of Prince William, before the couple tied the knot in 2020.

And Lucy, 36, who leads mindfulness and outdoor learning at Thomas’s Battersea, has made a name for herself as a fashion icon, earning eighth place on Tatler’s prestigious best-dressed list for 2024.

The British magazine praised her recent outfit at the Duke of Westminster’s wedding as a ‘masterclass in elegance’. 

Expertly mixing high street with high-end, she selected a slate blue silk dress, £91.65 Nine West nude platform heels, a £105 navy straw boater by Adele The Dress Fitter and a £45 weaved clutch bag from John Lewis. 

For the wedding of the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson, Lucy selected a slate blue silk dress, elevated by £92 nude platform heels from Nine West, a navy straw boater and matching £45 weaved clutch bag by John Lewis 

Lucy, who is originally from Thomastown in County Kilkenny, Ireland, married Thomas van Straubenzee at Chelsea Old Church, south west London, in July 2020.

She leads mindfulness and outdoor learning at Thomas’s Battersea, the prep school previously attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte – and is also assistant head teacher at its sister school in Clapham. 

The royally-approved institute, which charges from £8,209 per term, is one of four that form the exclusive set of Thomas’s London day schools. 

Lucy runs the social action projects for Thomas’s schools across London and is said to have developed a close bond with Kate Middleton during her cancer diagnosis.

She has been warmly welcomed into the Royal fold and has been spotted at various events surrounded by the likes of Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie. 

In 2020, she and Thomas were even invited to join the royals for the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate.

And the teacher has steadily proved her status as a style maven, showcasing a range of high street and designer labels.

At Royal Ascot, she sported a vibrant green poplin shirt dress by Jonathan Simkhai, priced at £445, with a floral fascinator, £30 Zara ‘City’ bag and her reliable platform shoes.

She has also been spotted displaying her playful side on a night out, wearing a racy royal blue bandage dress by Herve Leger, worth £400. 

Lucy not only teaches mindfulness and outdoor learning at Thomas’s Battersea, the prep school previously attended by Prince George and Princess Charlotte, but is also assistant head teacher at its sister school in Clapham

Lucy has steadily proved her status as a style maven and was seen wearing a racy royal blue bandage dress by Herve Leger, worth £400

At Royal Ascot, she sported a vibrant green poplin shirt dress by Jonathan Simkhai, priced at £445, with a floral fascinator, Zara ‘City’ bag and her reliable platforms. Pictured with Sarah Ferguson (left)

She brushed shoulders with various royals at Ascot, including Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank 

Lucy and Thomas van Straubenzee joined the Royal Family for the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in 2020

Falling in love with the future king of England’s closest confidante may seem daunting to many, but Lucy appears quite accustomed to moving in privileged circles. 

Her mother, Carolyn, is an avid rider and horse owner, while her father Stephen, a barrister, has been successful in breeding show-jumpers over the years.

Lucy’s brother is Irish Olympic pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe.

Her sister, Cathy, who resides in London, worked as an artist liaison at the Blain/Southern art gallery, in Hanover Square, before it went into administration.

It is thought that Carolyn moved to London to be closer to her daughters.

Lucy married Thomas, a lifelong friend of Prince William, at Chelsea Old Church, south west London, in July 2020, with only their parents and siblings present.

At the time of their wedding, Lucy was expecting their first child, Mary, and they later welcomed a son, Albert, two years afterwards. 

Their wedding plans were significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a three-month delay and a scaled-down ceremony. 

Prince William was originally set to be an usher and Princess Charlotte was to be a bridesmaid. 

Thomas previously married Lady Melissa ‘Missy’ Percy in 2013, with Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Pippa Middleton among the attendees. 

The event was famously referred to as the ‘Royal Wedding of the North’.

The couple divorced in 2016, with Thomas’s disputed ‘unreasonable behaviour’ cited as the reason for the relationship breakdown.

Before his marriage to Lucy, he had a reputation for enjoying a night out.

Melissa, known as the Hogwarts Heiress due to her upbringing at Alnwick Castle where the Harry Potter films were shot, stepped away from the royal scene after the divorce.

Thomas previously married Lady Melissa ‘Missy’ Percy in 2013, with Princess Beatrice , Princess Eugenie and Pippa Middleton among the attendees. The event was famously referred to as the ‘Royal Wedding of the North’

Lucy changed into a £727 Simkhai ‘Maisie’ maxi dress for the evening party at the wedding of The Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson in June

Thomas, a partner at the private office of estate agency Knight Frank, first met Prince William at Ludgrove School, where he and his younger brothers, Charlie and Henry, were students. 

The van Straubenzee family is known for its military gentry background, with their grandfather, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry van Straubenzee, having served with distinction. 

Thomas’s family is recognised as one of the Royal Family’s closest allies and his uncle, William van Straubenzee, was a friend of Princess Diana.

Not only is Thomas pals with Prince William, but his younger brother, Charlie, is one of Prince Harry’s best friends. 

The royals were deeply affected by Henry’s tragic death in a car crash at just 18 in 2002.

William and Harry were patrons of a charity established in memory of the van Straubenzees’ late brother.

Thomas was reportedly a favourite of Queen Elizabeth and frequently visits Balmoral.

It is believed that she recommended he join William on his first official overseas tour to New Zealand on behalf of his grandmother.

Thomas delivered one of the speeches at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011 and he and Charlie served as ushers at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018.