Princess Eugenie mourns ‘special friend’ Michelle Trachtenberg
Princess Eugenie is mourning the death of Michelle Trachtenberg.
The youngest child of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the 34-year-old princess took to her Instagram Story on Thursday to pay tribute to the late âGossip Girlâ star, who she described as a âspecial friend.â
The Post broke the news that Trachtenbergâs mother found the actress dead in her New York City apartment on Wednesday. She was 39.
âGoodbye special friend. You are so loved and missed,â Eugenie wrote in a caption over a sepia-toned photo-booth-style snap of her with Trachtenberg.
The princess continued, âThank you for so many memories of laughter and fun. You were so thoughtful and generous and soooo funny.â
âMy favourite was listening to you order food, always done with precision so you got exactly what we all wanted,â the royal added.
Eugenie concluded, âIâm thinking of you up there friend, of your spirit that was so bright and your joy you brought so many.â
The princessâ friendship with the late âHarriet the Spyâ star dated back to 2013, when Eugenie was living in New York working for online auction house Paddle8.
The duo was first seen together in December of that year at a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, sitting courtside with âThe Wireâ actor Michael K. Williams.
In 2016, Trachtenberg shared a photo on Instagram with the princess as they enjoyed a Los Angeles âart tourâ with florist Eric Buterbaugh, photographer Tyler Shields and actress Ana Mulvoy Ten.
âLet the art tour continue,â the âIce Princessâ actress began her Mar. 13 post, adding, âlast week we went to The Broad museum, today I got a tour of the brand new Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery in downtown LA featuring âAbstract Sculpture by Women 1947-2016.â Make sure you see the incredible #EvaHesse installation.â
Seemingly referring to Princess Eugenie, Trachtenberg wrote, âThanks to my girl E, for being my art guide!âÂ
The actress added, âOh and a couple other rascals joined in on the fun today. #art #sundayfunday. Friends who art together stay together!â
In her post, Trachtenberg tagged art gallery Hauser & Wirth, where Eugenie currently works.
Five days later, the âBuffy the Vampire Slayerâ alum shared a St. Patrickâs Day shout-out to the princess.
âThere are few people in life that you meet that you know are true and real,â she captioned a photo of her with Eugenie.
âThis lady happens to be one of them. Friends really do mean a lot. Happy #stpatricksday May luck of love and friends be with you.â
Trachtenberg again celebrated her friendship with the royal in a December 2020 Instagram post, striking a reflective tone and referencing the COVID-19 pandemic, which was still in its first year.
âThis is a #throwback post. And a dedication to an amazing person,â the actress wrote alongside the same photo that Princess Eugenie posted on Thursday.
Trachtenberg continued, âI met this wonderful human. Years ago in New York. Eugenie, has been one of the most dearest, kindest, most genuine friends I have ever had in my life. As we are going through these very challenging times. Iâm finding new levels of gratitude.â
The actress added, âI am grateful for the relationships I have made over the years. I am grateful we have a vaccine on the way. I am grateful for the people who wear masks to protect themselves and others, and our front line workers.â
âThis holiday season will be a challenge,â Trachtenberg said. âPlease stay safe, be smart. So that 2021 we can come back strong!â
She included the hashtags #throwback, #womancrushwednesday and #stayhome in her caption.
Princess Eugenie left New York in 2015 and returned to the U.K to take her job at Hauser & Wirth.
It does not appear Trachtenberg attended Eugenieâs wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in 2018.
Another of the actressâ friends, photographer and media personality Amanda de Cadenet, claimed on Wednesday that Trachtenberg was recently hospitalized and âknew death was a high possibilityâ in the final months of her life.
Trachtenbergâs rep, Gary Mantoosh, confirmed her passing in a statement to The Post on Wednesday.
âIt is with great sadness [we] confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,â Mantoosh said. âThe family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.â
The âEuro Tripâ starâs death is not deemed suspicious, per law enforcement. Trachtenberg underwent a liver transplant within the last year. According to sources, itâs believed her body may have rejected the transplant, and she died of natural causes.
However, the starâs death was ruled âundeterminedâ on Thursday morning after her family objected to an autopsy, a spokeswoman for the medical examinerâs office told The Post.
