Princess Eugenie, 35, has worked with Hauser & Wirth, which has two central London showrooms, since 2015 and is a director of the gallery, according to an interview on its website
An art gallery where Princess Eugenie is a director has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions. Hauser & Wirth is alleged to have made “luxury goods available to a person connected with Russia” between April and December 2022.
The high-end gallery, which has two showrooms in central London, allegedly supplied a painting by America artist George Condo called Escape from Humanity to Moscow-based collector Alexander Popov. There no suggestion Popov has been accused of wrongdoing and he is not under UK government sanction.
The charge is believed to be the first made under the law banning the supply of luxury good to Russia, which was introduced following the invasion of Russia. The gallery was first investigated by the HMRC.
Britain banned the export of luxury items valued over £250 to Russia in April 2022 alongside other nations. The ban includes high-end fashion goods, vehicles, works of art, pearls, semi-precious stones and jewellery.
Princess Eugenie is a director with Hauser and Wirth and has worked with the gallery since 2015, according to a 2019 interview on its website. The 35-year-old princess has retained her royal titles after her dad Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was dramatically stripped of his.
There is no suggestion Princess Eugenie had any involvement in the alleged supply of the painting to Popov. The Times reported that Alex White, for the prosecution, told a hearing at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that the maximum penalty for the charge is an unlimited financial penalty.
Hugo Keith KC, representing the gallery, told the hearing the company wanted the case transferred to a crown curt. The case was adjourned to a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court on December 16.
Popov runs the Popov Art Foundation alongside his wife Evgeniya in Moscow. The gallery’s collection includes works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Banksy.
Back in 2020, Popov said: “We collect what we love. We gather things that touch us personally and are thought-provoking. It’s always about emotions with a bit of humour.”
It follows Princess Beatrice making her first public appearance since her father Andrew was stripped of all Royal titles. The socialite set aside the continuing controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor as she appeared in London to champion a charity dedicated to preventing premature births.
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