Flora Vesterberg Opens Up on Autism Diagnosis at 30
Hold onto your mug—Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Flora Vesterberg just spilled the freshest tea about her autism diagnosis at age 30, and it’s a rollercoaster of relief, self-discovery, and royal sparkle! Picture this: the art-loving granddaughter of Princess Alexandra pens a first-person essay for British Vogue on May 25, revealing that she quietly grappled with neurodiversity since childhood. (Yes, even under all those tiaras there’s a story we didn’t know.)
Flora kicked off her candid narrative by sharing how the urgent need for clarity before starting her PhD at The Courtauld Institute of Art led her to pursue a clinical assessment. Dr. Dimitrios Paschos—leading consultant psychiatrist and honorary research fellow at King’s College London—confirmed what she’d sensed for years: autism. Cue the confetti, because Flora said the diagnosis felt nothing short of liberating. She described feeling “empowered by having a framework with which to understand my experiences and sensitivities,” and that validation came with a big dose of relief.
This over-caffeinated aunt can’t help but gush about how Flora’s story shines a spotlight on the Now I Know campaign by the U.K.’s National Autistic Society. (Seriously, have you seen those videos? They’re giving women and non-binary folks diagnosed later in life their moment to shine.) Flora credited that initiative with helping her feel seen and reminding us all that autism doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all label—it can show up anywhere, from Buckingham Palace corridors to your best friend’s living room.
In her essay, Flora quoted a jaw-dropping stat from Dr. Paschos: a staggering 80% of women with autism go undiagnosed by age 18. She hopes her openness will chip away at that number, encouraging autistic women everywhere to advocate for needed support. (Cue Auntie’s proud nod.) And let’s not forget the fun royal tidbits sprinkled throughout her story—like her September 2020 nuptials to Swedish financier-turned-hockey pro Timothy Vesterberg at the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace. She rocked Princess Alexandra’s Ogilvy Tiara all over again at the 2021 church blessing, mingling with Prince Edward, Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh, and more glittering royals.
Through all the heartfelt revelations, Flora’s ultimate message is crystal clear: embracing neurodiversity can unlock hidden strengths and foster kinder self-care. She’s now mapping out rituals to support both herself and an online community of autistic women—because why not turn royal tradition into a platform for social change?
Whew! That was a LOT to process, but I swear I could talk about this all day.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, British Vogue, National Autistic Society
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
