She kicked off her birthday celebrations last month with the huge charity event, during which she spent more than two hours shaking hands with as many of the 200-plus guests as she could, thanking them for their important work. Among the charities invited were nine organisations of which The Princess Royal has become Patron in the last year, including Friends of the Elderly, as well as charities with which the Princess has a longstanding association, such as Save the Children, of which she became President in 1970. Some of the newer patronages that were represented included Royal Star and Garter Homes – a former patronage of the late Elizabeth II – and the Naval Children’s Charity, once a patronage of the Duke of York.
Typically self-effacing, Princess Anne told her guests that she was not there through her own choice. ‘You very kindly asked me to become patron of your organisations, so it’s an honour for me to have all of you here.’ She described the ‘pleasure’ she gets from visiting and supporting her chosen charities, and offered heartfelt thanks to the representatives for their tireless good work.
The responsibility and respect that you give to your own organisations, the people who work for you and your own beneficiaries, is perhaps the key to what makes you so important,’ she said. ‘Respect and responsibility. Thank you very much for doing what you do.’ She also gave a nod to her brother, thanking him for the use of the Palace, adding: ‘I would just like to make the point that we are very fortunate that His Majesty has allowed us to use Buckingham Palace for this event tonight – and I need say that – it does help.’
On slowing down, the King’s sister is likely to follow in the footsteps of her father, Prince Philip, and retire in her tenth decade. A source close to Anne said: ‘She has said her plan is to push on [with work] until she is 80, then start winding down a bit, and then copy the [late] Duke of Edinburgh and wind down completely at 90.’
Often hailed as a chip off the old block, Anne’s attitude to her birthday is a classic example of her character: dedicated, committed, and without need for any fanfare.