Princess Anne shines as the royal who ‘keeps calm and carries on’
As the world adjusts to the new King, and subsequent changes to the royal family, Princess Anne proves to be a steady and reliable source of stability and hope.
World
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When the Princess Royal held a silent vigil with her brothers beside her late mother Queen Elizabeth’s coffin at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, she made history as the first woman to do so.
But this solemn moment also encapsulated her devotion to her mother, and the unwavering duty and willing spirit that have long made her a jewel in the Crown.
As Princess Anne and her second husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence prepare to celebrate 30 years of marriage on Monday (12 December), her steadfastness in every aspect of her life has been duly noted by King Charles III who is preparing her for the frontline role of walking alongside the “Fab Four” when he ramps up as monarch in the new year.
“When the Queen died all eyes were on senior royals to see who would be promoted or act as substitutes for the King and, after him, Princess Anne is the hardest working royal, he holds her in the highest esteem, which is why he will elevate her to be at the forefront of the Fab Four – The King, the Queen Consort and Prince and Princess of Wales,” royal writer and author of The New Royals, Katie Nicholl said.
“She already has a title, she was bestowed the title Princess Royal in 1987, the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal family. She also declined titles for her children after she was given the choice of adding the HRH status to their name.
“The King knows he has a loyal and faithful ally in her and will keep her very close to him as part of his streamlined monarchy; she is reliable, devoted and committed to hundreds of charities.”
“When I interviewed her for her 70th birthday, she said she has no plans to retire and that ‘retirement is not an option for us royals’ – that’s the way it will always be for Princess Anne and she acknowledges the huge burden her brother has taken on and is prepared to serve him,” she said.
Ever since the heartbreaking day the royals lost the Queen, on September 8, the one constant in the Crown’s smooth transition to the reign of Charles III has been Princess Anne whose heart has been guided by a promise to her late mother to help continue to lead the nation.
The hardworking princess still clocks up several hundred engagements every year, her tally only falling shy of Charles. Indeed she was in Scotland carrying out official engagements when her mother’s health rapidly declined and played such a stoic role in what the King has described as their mother’s “last great journey” following her coffin from Balmoral to Edinburgh and sitting with her on an RAF plane and eventually to rest in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace.
Always with her, quietly in the background, is her second husband, retired naval officer who was equerry to the late Queen, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Their romance developed after problems in her first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips came to a head in 1985 when he fathered a love child with New Zealand art teacher, Heather Tonkin – a paternity test confirmed this in 1991.
The couple, who share two children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, separated in 1989 and divorced in 1992.
Later that same year, Princess Anne married Sir Timothy Laurence, described as safe but “kind” and “decent”, on December 12 at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral, in 1992.
“Princess Anne was the first royal to divorce and the Queen was saddened by this but her divorce from Captain Mark Phillips in 1992 was quiet and her second marriage has proved to stand the test of time,” said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
“The two are deeply committed to each other and sail around Scotland every year alone, together, on their yacht, their sailing trips are considered to be sacrosanct.
“She herself is no fuss, committed to supporting the crown and devoting herself to the work of the monarchy and is particularly interested in children’s charity Save the Children.
“Charles absolutely plans to include her in his new streamlined monarchy and has a few roles up his sleeve for her.
“He has said he will have less time to dedicate to some of the causes and charities he has supported in the past and he will be looking to distribute some of the Queen’s 400 more charities which he has inherited to his sister.
“She may not be glamorous Kate (Princess of Wales) but she doesn’t want to be and is universally respected and seen as the most sincere royal.”
Charles and Anne were the only siblings by their mother’s side when she took her last breath, which royal insiders say has only strengthened their bond.
She has always quietly got on with the job, navigating high waters by keeping her head down, and focusing on her role as one of the monarchy’s most prolific performers.
Having never felt the need to surround herself with the trappings of royal life, the famously frugal royal lives in the same Gloucestershire estate as her children on Gatcombe Park.
Zara and her rugby player husband Mike share Aston Farm with their three children Mia, eight, Lena, four and one-year-old Lucas, while a stone’s throw away is the cottage where Peter lives with his daughters Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10.
According to one former royal aide: “Not a huge deal will change for the Princess Royal, she’s a workaholic and incredibly well respected by her charities and patronages, so, if anything she’ll step up a bit and you’ll see more of her but she’ll just keep calm and carry on.”
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