The Chalet Eugenia is a chalet in Klosters which has been used by members of the British royal family for over three decades."High Altitude Society"
(March 2013). '' Vanity Fair''

History and background

Chalet Eugenia was built after World War II and was completed in 1958 by Baroness Thyssen-Bornemisza. It was subsequently bought by the

Bentinck family The House of Bentinck is a prominent family belonging to Dutch, German and British nobility. Its members have served in the armed forces and as ambassadors and politicians, including Governor General of India and Prime Minister of the United K ...

and later sold in 2012 to the

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

businessman

Rolf Theiler Rolf Theiler (born November 5, 1957) is a Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and co-owner of Mercedes CSI and chairman and president of Laureus Foundation Switzerland. Theiler is also the former co-owner and chairman of ...

Style and interior

The chalet's interior design dates from the 1950s, and has been largely retained. The drawing room has a central pillared stone log fireplace leading onto an oak beamed and paneled dining room. The second dining room is equipped with the original wood fired oven. Most rooms have their own balconies and terraces with views of the Gotschna mountainous region. In 2006 Tom Robbins described the chalet as "the poshest pad in the Alps". The chalet overlooks the village of Klosters, described by

Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. It was first published in New York City on November 2, 1867, as the weekly ''Harper's Bazar''. ''Harper's Bazaar'' is published by Hearst and considers itself to be the st ...

as "the ski resort beloved of the royal family".

Skiing

Chalet Eugenia has a 'Ski in & Ski out' children's Heid Ski Lift directly next to the northwesterly side of the chalet, allowing access to the T-bar lift powered slope.

Klosters and society

The Klosters ski resort has long been a winter destination for the British royal family. Prince William and Prince Harry learnt to ski in the village. Other celebrities who have vacationed at the resort include

Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three ...

Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, t ...

Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her ac ...

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...

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, William Wyler, John F. Kennedy's sister Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Kenneth More, Major Hugh Lindsay,

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, Stavros Niarchos, Carol Thatcher,

Georgina Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk Georgina Susan Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk (born 30 January 1962), is the ex-wife of Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. Early life and family She was born Georgina Susan Gore, the younger daughter of John Temple ("Jac ...

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the 12th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood ...

, Yul Brynner, Kay Kendall, Juliette Gréco, Roger Vadim, David Niven, Robert Capa, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent,

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth ...

, Greta Garbo and

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

, who danced on the tables in the hotel bar of the Hotel Chesa Grischuna where

Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey "Rex" Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play ''French Without Tears'', in what ...

discussed his musical notes for " My Fair Lady" with the hotel pianist. Producer of 'Gone with the wind',

David O. Selznick David O. Selznick (May 10, 1902June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive who produced ''Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and ''Rebecca'' (1940), both of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Picture. E ...

and his wife Jennifer Jones along with

Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...

, Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland were all regulars in the sixties. Irwin Shaw had a street named after him. Billy Wilder came to ski and party in the village every winter,

wrote; "I could have danced all night!" Baroness Joanna von Schenk's chalet has the following quote carved into the wood; "If you were very good in a previous life, God will give you Klosters in the next." Peter Viertel described Klosters as "Hollywood on the Rocks" in his autobiography 'Dangerous Friends' and in 1960 he married

Deborah Kerr Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 192116 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr (), was a British actress. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress. During her international film career, Kerr won a G ...

in the village. More recent visitors include Peter Mandelson, billionaires Nathaniel Rothschild, and Peter Munk

Benjamin Wegg-Prosser Benjamin Charles Wegg-Prosser (born June 1974) is managing partner of Global Counsel, a London-based strategic consultancy and lobbying organisation which has as its chair Peter Mandelson. Wegg-Prosser was Tony Blair's Director of Strategic Commu ...

, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Sir Simon Robertson, Rupert Everett, John Fairchild,

Nicholas Wheeler Nicholas Charles Tyrwhitt Wheeler (born 20 January 1965) is an English businessman. In 1986, he established the Charles Tyrwhitt company and shirt brand, which he owns. Life and career Wheeler was born Ludlow, Shropshire and was educated ...

, Chrissie Rucker and Swiss movie producer Marc Forster. In 2009 and 2010 Prince Andrew rented Chalet Eugenia during the Davos World Economic Forum, hosting Lord Mandelson and George Osborne during his first visit.

References

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External links