Princess Eugenie Pays Tribute to "Genuine" Friendship With Michelle Trachtenberg Following Her Death

Trachtenberg was first linked to the royal in 2013, calling Eugenie "true and real."

Michelle Trachtenberg and Princess Eugenie pose together in a photobooth
(Image credit: Instagram/princesseugenie)

Tributes have been pouring in following the sad news of Michelle Trachtenberg's death on Feb. 26 at the age of 39. Known for her roles on Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Trachtenberg was beloved by many, including royalty.

Sharing a candid snap of them together, Princess Eugenie wrote on her Instagram Story, "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 sooo funny." She continued, "My favorite 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."

Michelle Trachtenberg and Princess Eugenie pose together in a photobooth

Princess Eugenie shared a photo of Michelle Trachtenberg on Instagram.

(Image credit: Instagram/princesseugenie)

In December 2020, Trachtenberg shared the same photo on her own Instagram, paying tribute to the royal at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star wrote in the caption, "This is a #throwback post. And a 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 continued, "As we are going through these very challenging times. I'm finding new levels of gratitude. I am grateful for the relationships I have made over the years." She then urged people to continue to stay safe and to protect themselves from the virus.

Trachtenberg was first linked to Princess Eugenie in December 2013, when the pair were photographed watching the Atlanta Hawks play against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Michelle Trachtenberg and Princess Eugenie sit next to one another at Madison Square Garden on December 14, 2013 to watch the Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks

Michelle Trachtenberg and Princess Eugenie in New York on December 14, 2013.

(Image credit: Getty Images/James Devaney/FilmMagic)

Michelle Trachtenberg and Princess Eugenie sit next to one another at Madison Square Garden on December 14, 2013 to watch the Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks

Michelle Trachtenberg and Princess Eugenie in New York on December 14, 2013.

(Image credit: Getty Images/James Devaney/FilmMagic)

In March 2016, Tractenberg shared a pair of Instagram posts revealing she'd reunited with the princess, this time in Los Angeles. In the caption, the actress revealed that she'd been given a tour of the brand new Hauser & Wirth gallery in the city, paying special "thanks to my girl E, for being my art guide." Eugenie, of course, is an Associate Director at Hauser & Wirth, making her the perfect person to tour an art gallery with.

Proving that their friendship was only getting stronger, Trachtenberg shared a selfie taken with Eugenie just days later. "There are few people in life that you meet that you know are true and real," she explained in the caption. "This lady happens to be one of them. Friends really do mean a lot."

According to the New York Post, Trachtenberg's cause of death has been marked as "undetermined," with her family allegedly declining for an autopsy to be carried out. The outlet also reported that the actress "had undergone a liver transplant within the last year," although it's unclear whether that was a contributing factor in her death.

Amy Mackelden
Weekend Editor

Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.