Queen Camilla‘s niece has announced an exciting career move after eight years of working with Princess Eugenie.
30-year-old Ayesha Shand, who lives in New York, previously worked at art gallery Hauser & Wirth in London where Princess Eugenie is a director.
On International Women’s Day last week, Ayesha, the daughter of Camilla’s late brother, Mark Shand, revealed that she is stepping away from her role of eight years to enter the beauty world as the US VP of marketing at Trinny London.
Announcing the decision on LinkedIn, Ayesha told her followers that she is moving industry to feel ‘vulnerable’ and grow professionally.
‘Although it is a total shift in sector, and in some ways skill-set – and yes the imposter syndrome is real – I believe that the only way to grow is to challenge yourself, to feel like you are the stupidest person in the room, and to feel vulnerable once again,’ Ayesha said on the platform via Hello.
Trinny London, founded by Trinny Woodall in 2017, is a makeup and skincare brand aimed at empowering women to feel and look their best.
She added: ‘I decided to take the job not because of my love of the industry – I’m a novice – but because of my belief in the brand. Trinny London is skincare and makeup for women on the go, for those who don’t have time for a 20-step routine, for those who don’t want to be better but just want to feel their best selves.
‘My all-time favourite quote is, ”There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection”. To me, that is the true essence of beauty. I’m excited for my new chapter.’
Queen Camilla’s niece, Ayesha Shand (pictured), has left her role at Hauser & Wirth to start a new role at Trinny London
Ayesha is the daughter of conservationist and author Mark Shand, who died at the age of 62 in 2014 after suffering a head injury.
The marketing VP’s mother is the 67-year-old former actress, Clio Goldsmith, who is the niece of billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Goldsmith and the cousin of Jemima Khan.
Mark and Clio divorced in 2009 after 19 years of marriage but remained good friends.
Ayesha, who was raised in Rome and London, undertook a master’s degree in history of art at the University of Edinburgh before launching her successful marketing career.
In January last year, the 30-year-old told the Daily Mail’s Diary editor Richard Eden that she suffers from endometriosis, an often-painful condition where tissue like the womb grows in other places.
‘It’s isolating, agonising, and completely unbearable,’ Shand told Eden.
Ayesha launched her successful marketing career after gaining a history of art degree from the University of Edinburgh
The 30-year-old is the daughter of Queen Camilla’s late brother, Mark Shand (pictured: Ayesha and Camilla at Mark’s memorial in London, 2014)
‘Every month, I ingest hundreds of pain killers, faint, vomit, spend nights and days crouched on the floor crying. This is all followed by intense waves of helplessness and depression.’
She added: ‘Endometriosis is very difficult to diagnose, treat and, ultimately, cure. According to statistics, one in ten women suffer from it, but due to the inability to diagnose the condition, it is likely [to be] double that.
‘Most women live this cycle of pain in silence. I am lucky enough to be operated in a few weeks.’
It comes after Shand’s aunt, Queen Camilla, arrived at Cheltenham for ‘Style Wednesday’ alongside Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall today.
They joined a rather chilly Cheltenham for day two of the festival – traditionally dubbed Ladies Day – but renamed last year after the show announced they would hand out fashion awards to both men and women.
The now-named gender-neutral Style Wednesday sees punters go the extra mile to impress with their glamorous ensembles – and those representing the royal family certainly did not disappoint.
The three royals appeared to be matching, all wearing various shades of burgundy in a display of unity, while first cousins Eugenie and Zara posed for photos together.
Meanwhile King Charles’s niece Zara Tindall shared a passionate smooch with her husband Mike as they arrived at the event.
Pictured: Ayesha Shand, Princess Eugenie of York, Ruth Powys and Nicholas Coleridge at the opening night of Conservation Couture: The Animal Ball Collection on October 25, 2016, in London
The royal equestrian, 42, opted for a Laura Green AW25 wool pinstripe suit with leather detailing and a pop of colour, as a burgundy turtleneck peeked through her blazer alongside a Strathberry bag – with a stunning fascinator to match Eugenie’s.
Princess Eugenie, 34, joined by her husband Jack Brooksbank, was on the same royal style memo as Zara, donning a double-breasted blazer in the same colour as Zara’s high-neck, and adding a Tudor-style hat.
The pair were spotted deep in conversation as they made their way to the course.
Their aunt Queen Camilla, 77, appeared in beaming spirits as she arrived in a more muted display, with a tailored coat paired with a burgundy leather bag and stunning faux fur-rimmed hat from Lock&Co.
Camilla looked elegant for her surprise visit, adding her double pansy brooch to her coat, and black suede boots – believed to be from Russell and Bromley.
And she was joined by her son, Tom Parker Bowles, as she watched the Turners Novice’s Hurdle.
Eugenie was also greeted by James Haskell, a known close pal of Mike, and who went public with his new Big Brother star girlfriend Sara McLean after his split from Chloe Madeley last year.
According to the festival’s website, Style Wednesday ‘celebrates both the thrill of racing and the art of fashion’, with attendees interpreting the dress code in a multitude of colourful ways.