In the first of our new Biography Series, I take a look at the character, life, and work of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, second child and only daughter of the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Known as: Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal
Name at birth: HRH Princess Anne of Edinburgh
Date of birth: 15/11/1950
Did you know?... HRH competed in the 1976 Olympics, in Equestrian Eventing
Princess Anne is one of the hardest working royals of the British Royal Family. I have long been a fan of Her Royal Highness, indeed I could say she is my favourite royal, but I do not tend to really have favourites! A deeper look at her life and work reveals a fascinating character. Every year The Telegraph analysis reveals who completes the most engagements, both in the UK and overseas. In 2018, Anne completed 447 engagements in the UK and 71 overseas, and worked 180 days. Prince Edward was second with 170 days, and Prince Charles third with 160. Prince Andrew worked 140 days, with Prince William at 120 engagements, and Prince Harry at just over 90. She came first in 2017 too with 455 official appearances and 85 engagements overseas.
Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise was born on 15th August 1950 at Clarence House, to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh. Their family home was Clarence House, until Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952 and they moved to Buckingham Palace. Anne is the second child and only daughter of the Queen. Third in line to the throne at the time of her birth, she is now 14th. A 21 gun salute in Hyde Park signalled her birth, and she was christened in the music room of Buckingham Palace as was tradition, by the Archbishop of York. The Princess grew up under the care of her governess, Catherine Peebles, along with her elder brother Charles. Aged only 1 and a half at the time of her mother’s accession, she did not attend the coronation, but it marked a huge change in her life; her parents became much busier, and embarked on a tour of the Commonwealth that took them away from their young children for 18 months. Their grandmother, the Queen Mother, took care of them.
The Princess attended Brownies, with the reinstatement of the 1st Buckingham Palace Company, that her mother and aunt, Princess Margaret, had been part of as young girls. From a young age Anne showed signs of being a tomboy, adventurous, and much more confident than the shyer Charles. This gave her the approval of her father Prince Philip, and started the beginnings of a strong bond. Anne also started to show signs of being an excellent horsewoman. She likes that she can ride because of the effort she puts in, not because she is a royal. She once said, “When I'm approaching a water jump, with dozens of photographers waiting for me to fall in, and hundreds of spectators wondering what's going to happen next, the horse is just about the only one who doesn't know I am Royal!” It is that freedom she has to be herself around horses that she enjoys.
Anne was the first female member of the British royal family to go to school, starting to board at Benenden School in 1963, at aged 13, after being educated at home by her governess. She left at age 18 with six GCE O-Levels and two A-Levels. She enjoyed the freedom that school gave her, and fared well in sports. Although she was called upon to present the prizes at sports day, so could not entirely escape her royal status. In 1970 she began to date Andrew Parker-Bowles, who later married the now Duchess of Cornwall.
In 1968 she first met Lieutenant (later Captain) Mark Phillips at a party for horse enthusiasts, and they became engaged in 1973. The wedding took place on 14th November 1973 at Westminster Abbey. The Princess wore a white tudor-style inspired wedding dress, and the service was televised globally. The couple moved into Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, where Anne still lives today. Mark Phillips was offered the customary title, as an untitled man marrying into the royal family, so that their children would be styled as children of that title, in this case an earl. But the couple refused a title, with the belief that their children would fare better in life without a title to distinguish them from their peers.
One event that stands out is the kidnapping attempt of Her Royal Highness in 1974. She was travelling home to Buckingham Palace with her husband after a charity event, when the car they were in was stopped by another car. The driver, Ian Ball, got out and started firing a pistol, prompting Anne’s personal protection officer, Inspector James Beaton, to get out and protect Anne, and attempt to disarm Ball. However, Beaton’s firearm was jammed and he was shot by Ball, as was Anne’s chauffeur, Alex Callender. A nearby journalist was also shot as he intervened. Ball approached the car and told Anne of his plan to kidnap her and hold her ransom. Anne refused to get out of the car. She then exited the car from the other side, following the example of her lady-in-waiting. A passing pedestrian, who was a boxer, punched Ball in the back of the head and led Anne away to safety. Another passing policeman called for police backup, before being shot, and then backup arrived to arrest Ball. Anne and Mark were treated for shock. Others were hospitalised and recovered from their wounds. Ball pleaded guilty to the charges of attempted murder and kidnapping, and was imprisoned.
Anne is also known for equestrian prowess, competing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics for Team GB. She has one numerous events such as the individual title at the European Eventing Championship when she was just 21, prompting her to be voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1971. She competed with the British eventing team for over 5 years, winning a silver medal in both individual and team disciplines in the 1975 European Eventing Championship. Her husband Mark Phillips has also won numerous equestrian competitions.
Anne gave birth in 1977 to Peter Phillips, and in 1981 to Zara Phillips. She now has 4 grandchildren; Savannah and Isla, daughters of Peter and his wife Autumn, and Mia and Lena, daughters of Zara and her husband MIchael Tindall. She is regularly seen with her grandchildren at equestrian events, such as the Badminton Horse Trials. Her daughter Zara has followed in Anne’s footsteps to compete professionally in equestrian events, winning a team silver medal in the London 2012 Olympics for Team GB, which Anne presented. Anne is a British member of the International Olympic Committee, president of of the British Olympic Association.
In 1989 it was announced that Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips were to separate, and in 1992 they divorced. They had spent little time together and drifted apart. Both were known to be seeing other people. I think this marriage was put under strain by Anne’s royal status. Although she began to carry out royal duties at aged 18, opening of an educational and training centre in Shropshire in 1969 when her father, “pulled out,” at the last minute in an attempt to launch his daughter into public life, Anne’s public duties began to grow as she got older and stopped competing in equestrian events. They borrowed money from the Queen to pay for their home of Gatcombe Park and Mark felt under pressure to make the farm and estate run efficiently to pay the Queen back. He spent little time assisting his wife’s royal duties. I think that if Anne hadn’t been royal, she would also have been helping run the estate and they would have been together more. It is unfortunate, but both have moved on, and continue to see each other at family occasions such as their children’s weddings. Both their children have grown up strong and stable so are testament to their parents ability to still be good parents despite their divorce.
Anne remarried to Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, in December 1992 at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral in Scotland. Laurence served on the Royal Yacht Britannia for some time and was equerry to the Queen before his marriage, following his naval career. Anne and he rented a flat in Dolphin Square, London, for a while, before basing themselves at St James Palace and Gatcombe Park.
Anne has been supportive of many charities, notably Save the Children, of which she became President in 1970. This has seen her travel to China, Cambodia, Botswana, Madagascar and The Philippines, amongst others, to see the projects run by the charity first hand. This has opened her eyes to the plight of disadvantaged children and the issues affecting third world countries. She also supports Riding for the Disabled and the Not Forgotten Association. She founded The Princess Royal’s Trust for Carers, now Carers Trust, and has helped to start Transaid and Riders for Health. These later two charities try to overcome some of the difficulties caused by poor transportation links in developing countries.
HRH is involved with over 300 charities, organisations, associations and military regiments in the UK and overseas, and devotes time to many worldwide official engagements and visits. She also supports many regional authorities and local institutions across the UK. In 1987 she became the 7th holder of the Princess Royal title.
Many think that Anne is brash, unstylish, and forthright. She is similar to her father, the Duke of Edinburgh in personality and public relations, but she gets the job done, and works hard. In her younger days she was just as much of an icon as Princess Diana went on to become, and as the Duchess’ of Cambridge and Sussex are now. She survived a childhood that was stricter than the young royals of today experience, she has shown her equestrian skill, something she has personally worked hard at, and has shown she is more than just a royal. She has stayed true to herself, but also been faithful to her duty, content to work behind the scenes for the common good. There are many individuals who have been blessed by her interest and support. I think she is invaluable, and a fascinating character. This tomboy princess, a bit of a teenage rebel who has stuck to her duty, excelled at something beyond her royal status and held her own in the equestrian world, now Britain’s hardest working royal. Anne is a refreshing down to earth, no nonsense, stable princess, and questions what it really means to be a blood princess in the modern day. Anne challenges the princess ideal and what to do with that status. I think she has done an excellent job. Princess to her means hard-working, self-sacrificing, no-nonsense, down-to-earth.