Latest news with #TheCourtauldInstituteofArt
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
'I feel relieved': Queen Elizabeth II's cousin Flora Vesterberg reveals how she felt after being diagnosed with autism at age 30
Queen Elizabeth II's cousin Flora Vesterberg has revealed she was diagnosed with autism at age 30, declaring she was relieved by the news. Flora is the granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, the late Queen's first cousin. On Sunday, the 30-year-old art historian and broadcaster opened up about her late autism diagnosis in a first-person essay in British Vogue. "Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with autism. I've struggled quietly with the challenges of my neurodiversity since childhood, but am now also able to perceive its strengths," Flora wrote. "Like many women, I only recently felt compelled to pursue a clinical assessment. It followed an urgent need for clarity ahead of beginning my PhD at The Courtauld Institute of Art. "As a result of the diagnosis, I feel empowered by having a framework with which to understand my experiences and sensitivities." King's College London's Dr Dimitrios Paschos diagnosed her after a week of a "complex series of psychiatric evaluations" and questionaries. She said Dr Paschos reassured her she was not alone in feeling "equally relieved and unsettled by the outcome" and relayed some statistics. Flora said he told her "nearly 80 per cent of autistic women remain undiagnosed by age 18." Dr Paschos further mentioned to Flora a "vast number of women on the spectrum are hiding in plain sight." James and Julie Oglivy's daughter has now set out to advocate for a shift in that statistic over time. Ahead of starting her PhD this year, Flora championed the National Autistic Society's Now I Know campaign which she said moved her. Photography and films of both autistic women and non-binary people across the UK shine a light on their experiences of receiving a late autism diagnosis. Flora said this series "offered a powerful sense of community and relatability" as "someone who has previously felt overwhelmed by the limitations of undiagnosed autism." "It was also a reminder that autism comes in many different forms and can affect anyone, regardless of their background or career," she said. Flora resides in London, England, with her husband of five years Timothy Vesterberg, a Swedish financier and former professional hockey player. She married Vesterberg in a private ceremony at Chapel Royal in St. James's Palace in September 2020. A church blessing in royal wedding style followed the nuptials, where Flora stunned wearing Princess Alexandra's Ogilvy Tiara. Guests included royal family members Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife Sophie Winkleman.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queen Elizabeth's cousin Flora Vesterberg reveals autism diagnosis at 30
Flora Vesterberg, granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Princess Alexandra, has revealed her autism diagnosis in a powerful new essay. Currently 62nd in line to the British throne, Vesterberg is the thrice-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The 30-year-old art historian and broadcaster opened up about her neurodiversity in an article for Vogue published Sunday. 'Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with autism. I've struggled quietly with the challenges of my neurodiversity since childhood, but am now also able to perceive its strengths,' she began the essay. 'Like many women, I only recently felt compelled to pursue a clinical assessment. It followed an urgent need for clarity ahead of beginning my PhD at The Courtauld Institute of Art. As a result of the diagnosis, I feel empowered by having a framework with which to understand my experiences and sensitivities. It brings a sense of relief as well as validation. I know that this will not only help me to be kinder to myself, but also help my community to support me effectively.' Flora, who married private equity investor Timothy Vesterberg in 2020, said she was told by her psychiatrist: 'Nearly 80 per cent of autistic women remain undiagnosed by age 18, a vast number of women on the spectrum are hiding in plain sight.' Vesterberg said she was choosing to reflect on her diagnosis during Autism Awareness Month 'in the hope that I can contribute to advocating for a shift in that statistic over time.' The young royal added that it had given her 'the confidence to seek the right support' as she begins her PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London later this year. 'Whilst my journey with autism feels like it only truly began with my diagnosis, I feel relieved to now have a clearer understanding of my emotional needs as well as the strengths that I should lean into.' Vesterberg already holds a philanthropic role at the Courtauld on the Campaign Board. She is also co-chair of the Young Patrons' Circle of the Victoria & Albert Museum and supports the non-profit Art History Link-Up. Her father, James Ogilvy — the elder child and only son of Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy — reshared a link to his daughter's Vogue piece on Instagram, writing: 'Very proud of you beautiful daughter.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Queen Elizabeth's Cousin Flora Vesterberg Reveals Autism Diagnosis at Age 30: 'I Feel Relieved'
Princess Alexandra's granddaughter Flora Vesterberg shared that she was diagnosed with autism earlier this year Flora, 30, said she navigated challenges around her neurodiversity since childhood but felt compelled to pursue testing before undertaking a PhD The British royal family member said the diagnosis empowered her with a framework "to understand my experiences and sensitivities"Queen Elizabeth's cousin Flora Vesterberg has shared that she was diagnosed with autism at age 30. Flora is the granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, a first cousin of the late Queen, and opened up about her diagnosis in a first-person essay for British Vogue on May 25. "Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with autism. I've struggled quietly with the challenges of my neurodiversity since childhood, but am now also able to perceive its strengths," Flora began the essay. "Like many women, I only recently felt compelled to pursue a clinical assessment. It followed an urgent need for clarity ahead of beginning my PhD at The Courtauld Institute of Art," the art historian and broadcaster said. Following the diagnosis, Flora said that she felt "empowered by having a framework with which to understand my experiences and sensitivities," and that the diagnosis gave her "a sense of relief as well as validation." "I know that this will not only help me to be kinder to myself, but also help my community to support me effectively," she wrote. Flora said the diagnosis followed testing with Dr. Dimitrios Paschos, a leading consultant psychiatrist and honorary research fellow at King's College London, and mentioned that she was reflecting during Autism Awareness Month, which is observed around the world in April. The royal family member also shouted out the Now I Know campaign organized by the National Autistic Society of the U.K., which features a series of videos and photographs highlighting the experiences of women and non-binary individuals who were also diagnosed with autism later in life. "As someone who has previously felt overwhelmed by the limitations of undiagnosed autism, this series offered a powerful sense of community and relatability," Flora wrote. "It was also a reminder that autism comes in many different forms and can affect anyone, regardless of their background or career." The daughter of James and Julie Oglivy said that the diagnosis brought her clarity and voiced a wish to help other women with autism advocate for what they need. "Whilst my journey with autism feels like it only truly began with my diagnosis, I feel relieved to now have a clearer understanding of my emotional needs as well as the strengths that I should lean into," she wrote elsewhere in the essay. "...These can sometimes be overshadowed by the accompanying struggles, but that's when I hope to encourage myself – and other autistic women – to be open with their community, and develop rituals to help them embrace their neurodiversity." Flora turned 30 in December 2024 and cited a statistic from Dr. Paschos that 80% of women with autism remain undiagnosed by age 18. She said she penned the essay "in the hope that I can contribute to advocating for a shift in that statistic over time." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The PhD. student married Timothy Vesterberg, a Swedish financier and former professional hockey player, in a private ceremony at the Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace in September 2020 amid the COVID pandemic, followed by a church blessing one year later with royal wedding energy. There, the bride sparkled in Princess Alexandra's Ogilvy Tiara in its pearl setting for the celebration attended by Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Lord Frederick Windsor, his wife Sophie Winkleman and more royal family members. Read the original article on People
