Princess Eugenie's heartbreaking goodbye to 'special friend' Michelle Trachtenberg after Gossip Girl star's shock death

As celebrities continue to pay tribute to former child star Michelle Trachtenberg, her unlikely friendship with a member of the British royal family has hit the spotlight.

Trachtenberg's Instagram account includes a number of photos with Princess Eugenie, the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York.

It is thought the two met during Princess Eugenie's two-year stint living in New York City, where Trachtenberg resided. Trachtenberg's body was found in her luxury apartment this week. She was 39.

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Princess Eugenie moved to New York in 2013 to work for the online auction firm Paddle8, as a benefit auctions manager.

She stayed in New York until July 2015, when she moved back to London to take up a role with Hauser & Wirth art gallery.

Trachtenberg was a successful child star who appeared in her first TV commercial at three.

Among her first big breaks was a recurring role in the hit TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Starring roles in films Ice Princess and 17 Again, opposite Zac Efron and Matthew Perry, followed before she took on a role in Gossip Girl.

She played Georgina Sparks in 28 episodes of the smash hit show between 2008 and 2012, and was at the height of her fame when Princess Eugenie moved to New York.

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It is not known how the two met, but by December 2013 they were pictured side by side at a New York Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden.

In one of the photos taken of the pair that night, Trachtenberg appeared to have her arm around Princess Eugenie as they sat courtside for the match.

While not much else was known about their friendship at the time, it is clear from posts and a throwback photo Trachtenberg posted over the years that their bond was close.

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It is also clear that the two stayed in touch even after Princess Eugenie moved back to the UK.

An Instagram post dated March 14, 2016, shows Eugenie and Trachtenberg amongst a group of friends, which included floral designer Eric Buterbaugh, photographer and screenwriter Tyler Shields and actress Ana Mulvoy-Ten.

"Let the art tour continue," Trachtenberg wrote. "Last week we went to The Broad museum. Today I got a tour of the brand new Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery in downtown LA featuring 'Abstract Sculpture by Women 1947-2016'.

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"Thanks to my girl E, for being my art guide! Oh and a couple other rascals joined in on the fun today. Friends who art together stay together!" she ended the post.

Just four days later, Trachtenberg shared a stunning close-up photo of herself and Eugenie, with their heads touching.

"There are few people in life that you meet that you know are true and real. This lady happens to be one of them. Friends really do mean a lot. Happy #stpatricksday. May luck of love and friends be with you," the actress wrote.

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In December 2020, Trachtenberg took to Instagram with a throwback post and "dedication to an amazing person."

"I 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."

Trachtenberg went on to write that during the "very challenging" COVID-19 times she was finding "new levels of gratitude... for the relationships I have made over the years."

She added the hashtags #throwback #womancrushwednesday and #stayhome.

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After news of Trachtenberg's shock death broke, Eugenie took to her Instagram Story to share an emotional tribute.

"Goodbye special friend. You are so loved and missed. Thank you for so many memories of laughter and fun. You were so thoughtful and generous and soooo funny," she wrote alongside a photo of the two of them in New York.

"My favourite was listening to you order food, always done with precision so you got exactly what we all wanted. I'm thinking of you up there friend, of your spirit that was so bright and your joy you brought so many."

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