She dated Prince Harry for seven years on and off, and was once predicted to be the woman who would become his wife.
But Chelsy Davy proved the relationship was fully behind her, as she stepped out looking carefree in her first outing since her royal ex announced his engagement to Meghan Markle.
The Zimbabwean beauty, 32, flashed a dazzling smile as she mingled with the Prince’s auntie Sarah Ferguson at the Brilliant Is Beautiful gala at Claridge’s Hotel.
High spirits: Chelsy Davy stepped out looking carefree in her first outing since her royal ex Prince Harry announced his engagement to Meghan Markle
The blonde beauty, who split from the fifth in line to the throne in 2010, appeared to be in great spirits as she mingled with the London social set.
Opting for a classic monochrome look, she stunned in an embellished crop top teamed with a maxiskirt with racy sheer mesh inserts.
Styling her golden tresses in a sleek side-parting, Chelsy showcased her striking features with minimal make-up.
Her outing comes days after Prince Harry announced he would be marrying Suits actress Meghan, 36, at Windsor Castle next year.
![Loving life: The Zimbabwean beauty, 32, flashed a dazzling smile as she partied at the Brilliant Is Beautiful gala at Claridge's Hotel](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/01/23/46E34C3400000578-5137831-image-a-73_1512172466961.jpg)
Loving life: The Zimbabwean beauty, 32, flashed a dazzling smile as she partied at the Brilliant Is Beautiful gala at Claridge’s Hotel
![Looking good: Opting for a classic monochrome look, she stunned in an embellished crop top teamed with a maxiskirt with racy sheer mesh inserts](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/01/23/46E34C1700000578-5137831-image-a-74_1512172474084.jpg)
Looking good: Opting for a classic monochrome look, she stunned in an embellished crop top teamed with a maxiskirt with racy sheer mesh inserts
![Moving on: Her outing comes days after Prince Harry announced he would be marrying Suits actress Meghan, 36, at Windsor Castle next year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46BCA11200000578-5137831-image-a-101_1512173178812.jpg)
Moving on: Her outing comes days after Prince Harry announced he would be marrying Suits actress Meghan, 36, at Windsor Castle next year
As one of his longest-standing girlfriends, Chelsy had been lined up to be Prince Harry’s wife before they split in 2010.
The 32-year-old businesswoman, currently promoting an ethical jewellery brand, recently lifted the lid on what it feels like to date the prince, calling the intense media interest ‘scary’.
On and off with Harry for the best part of seven years, Zimbabwe-born Davy revealed that she ‘couldn’t cope’ with the attention and eventually retreated back to Africa for calm.
![Former flames: As one of his longest-standing girlfriends, Chelsy had been lined up to be Prince Harry's wife before they split in 2010. Seen in 2007](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3CB4000000578-5137831-image-m-79_1512172806205.jpg)
Former flames: As one of his longest-standing girlfriends, Chelsy had been lined up to be Prince Harry’s wife before they split in 2010. Seen in 2007
![In the past: The businesswoman recently lifted the lid on what it feels like to date the prince, calling the intense media interest 'scary'. Pictured in 2006](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3CB5400000578-5137831-image-a-78_1512172803847.jpg)
In the past: The businesswoman recently lifted the lid on what it feels like to date the prince, calling the intense media interest ‘scary’. Pictured in 2006
![Too much: On and off with Harry for the best part of seven years, Zimbabwe-born Davy revealed that she 'couldn't cope' with the attention and eventually retreated back to Africa for calm. Seen in 2006](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3CB5000000578-5137831-image-a-80_1512172823052.jpg)
Too much: On and off with Harry for the best part of seven years, Zimbabwe-born Davy revealed that she ‘couldn’t cope’ with the attention and eventually retreated back to Africa for calm. Seen in 2006
In an interview with the Times, Davy revealed that being chased by photographers desperate to capture images of the couple together was terrifying.
She said: ‘It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldn’t cope.’
The former lawyer describes herself as ‘just a normal kid’ and says it was ‘tough’ to go through such chases at such a young age, saying: ‘I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible.’
![Over it: The blonde beauty looked like she had fully moved on, flashing a wide smile for the cameras at the bash on Friday night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E34C3A00000578-5137831-image-a-81_1512172829625.jpg)
Over it: The blonde beauty looked like she had fully moved on, flashing a wide smile for the cameras at the bash on Friday night
![Preened to perfection: Styling her golden tresses in a sleek side-parting, Chelsy showcased her striking features with minimal make-up](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3C1DE00000578-5137831-image-a-83_1512172839168.jpg)
Preened to perfection: Styling her golden tresses in a sleek side-parting, Chelsy showcased her striking features with minimal make-up
After first meeting while she was a teenager at Cheltenham and then getting together during Prince Harry’s gap year in Cape Town, Davy returned to the UK to study in Leeds and be closer to the young royal.
Despite going on to establish a highly prized career at solicitor’s firm Allen & Overy, Chelsy was branded ‘a party girl’ by the media for her love of socialising.
She concedes she did nothing to correct the image and admits to ‘going out and partying a lot’.
![What are the chances! Also in attendance was Harry's auntie Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3445900000578-5137831-image-a-88_1512172961469.jpg)
What are the chances! Also in attendance was Harry’s auntie Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York
![Monochrome maven: The 58-year-old looked chic in a black column gown with a decadent lace embroidered neckline](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E34F4900000578-5137831-image-m-89_1512173001128.jpg)
![Monochrome maven: The 58-year-old looked chic in a black column gown with a decadent lace embroidered neckline](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3446100000578-5137831-image-a-90_1512173007978.jpg)
Monochrome maven: The 58-year-old looked chic in a black column gown with a decadent lace embroidered neckline
![Here to help! Sarah later slipped into the role of waitress later in the night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E3FB4D00000578-5137831-Here_to_help_Sarah_Ferguson_the_Duchess_of_York_and_Caroline_Sta-a-99_1512173023461.jpg)
Here to help! Sarah later slipped into the role of waitress later in the night
When the couple split in 2010, she says she retreated once again to her native Zimbabwe unable to handle the break-up headlines. ‘It was nuts,’ she says. ‘That’s also why I wanted to go back to Africa. Now it’s calm, it’s fine.’
Chelsy, whose mother Beverley Donald is former Miss Rhodesia 1973, now divides her time between Zimbabwe, where her family is based, her jewellery mine in Zambia and west London – where she has a home in Chelsea.
She says she’ll always ‘be good friends’ with Harry and indeed remained so much a part of the royal circle that she was invited to William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.
![Gorgeous ladies: Sarah looked regal in her black gown which featured a stunning neckline adorned with pearls for the ultimate glamour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E35E9600000578-5137831-Gorgeous_ladies_Sarah_looked_regal_in_her_black_gown_which_featu-a-92_1512173013993.jpg)
Gorgeous ladies: Sarah looked regal in her black gown which featured a stunning neckline adorned with pearls for the ultimate glamour
![Pleased as punch! She rubbed shoulders with Elizabeth Hurley at the event attended by the great and the good of the showbiz world](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/02/00/46E35EA200000578-5137831-Pleased_as_punch_Elizabeth_rubbed_shoulders_with_Sarah_Ferguson_-a-93_1512173016130.jpg)
Pleased as punch! She rubbed shoulders with Elizabeth Hurley at the event attended by the great and the good of the showbiz world