Princess Anne is celebrating her 75th birthday today, and as the Royal Family’s hardest-working member, she is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon
Princess Anne and Harry at the committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, following the Queen’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey(Image: Getty Images)
She is frequently considered the Royal Family’s most industrious member with a direct, practical approach to her wide-ranging responsibilities. And as Princess Anne marks her milestone 75th birthday, it is precisely this understated manner that she is adopting for the occasion.
There will be no grand public celebration, and no television appearance – indeed, the sole way her birthday is being acknowledged is through a new commemorative coin from the Royal Mint, which marks the first time Anne’s likeness has ever featured.
Last year, the Princess Royal carried out 474 engagements across the nation, as well as internationally, maintaining her status as the ‘most dedicated’ working Royal. The figure would have been considerably higher had she not been compelled to pause her duties last June following hospitalisation after sustaining a severe head injury in what is believed to have been a horse-related accident at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, reports the Mirror.
And according to royal commentator Jennie Bond, it is precisely her straightforward character that propels her relentless schedule.
She exclusively revealed: “She has always been a no-fuss woman. Her manner is crisp, clean and efficient. That’s how she regularly gets four or five jobs done a day – often in different parts of the country.
The Princess Royal during a visit to the South African Riding School for Disabled Association(Image: PA)
“There have been times when I think she has felt underappreciated. She once berated me for mentioning that Diana had been a champion of AIDS sufferers – I had been with the Princess Royal on a visit to an AIDS project in Uganda. Diana had recently died, and the charity asked me to tell Anne that they needed a new champion. The request did not go down well.
“But in recent years, I think her immense contribution to supporting her brother and the monarchy has been fully recognised. She is incredibly hard working and shows no sign of slowing down.”
Anne was born on August 15, 1950, at Clarence House, just under two years before her mother’s life transformed forever when she became Queen.
At the time she arrived, she was third in the line of succession after her elder brother, now King Charles.
Their shared experiences during childhood, as the late Queen and Prince Philip frequently embarked on lengthy foreign tours, enabled them to forge an unbreakable connection that remains evident today in her steadfast support of her elder sibling’s Royal duties.
Anne was born on August 15, 1950, at Clarence House, just under two years before her mother’s life transformed forever when she became Queen(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Indeed, during his Coronation ceremony, he bestowed upon her the coveted role of “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting” as recognition for her loyal dedication.
This historic position is traditionally given to someone trusted with protecting the monarch personally, with the King clearly considering his younger sister, who fondly calls him ‘Old Bean’, the ideal candidate. The late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s influence on their daughter, particularly in her illustrious equestrian career, cannot be underestimated, according to royal expert Jennie.
Princess Anne made history as the first member of the Royal Family to compete in the Olympics, representing Britain’s Equestrian team in Montreal in 1976.
Jennie explained: “There is a lot of her father in Anne: brusque, to the point and no fan of the media. Like him, she doesn’t like to talk about herself- she just gets the job done.
“As the late Queen’s only daughter, she had a very special bond with Elizabeth. They shared a passion for horses, and the Queen was very proud of Anne’s equestrian achievements.”
However, it’s not just her royal duties and supporting her brother that keeps Anne occupied – her family life is also bustling.
The princess resides near both of her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, from her first marriage, along with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Anne is mum to daughter Zara and son Peter (Image: (Image: GETTY))
When Peter and Zara were born, Anne made the unconventional decision at the time that they would not receive any royal titles – and would be expected to carve out their own careers.
This decision seems to have been fruitful, with both siblings agreeing it was the best choice for them as they lead independent lives, with Zara following in her mother’s footsteps as an Olympian Equestrian.
Mum-of-three Zara is well-known for her marriage to former England rugby player Mike Tindall, with whom she has three children: Mia, Lena and Lucas. Peter Phillipshas two daughters – Savannah and Isla – from his previous marriage to ex wife Autumn.
Both Peter and Zara have spoken about their mother’s hands-on approach to grand-parenting, while Mike revealed Princess Anne’s cheeky sense of humour during his stint on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
Jennie chimed in, saying: “I think she has the love and admiration of her children, Peter and Zara. They are particularly grateful to her for having the foresight to decide against giving them titles.
“They value the freedom and independence that this status (or lack of) has given them. And she is evidently quite a fun grandmother to have around – especially when it comes to teaching the children to ride.
“Anne’s sense of humour is dry – like her mother’s – but she’s no prude. She had a great comeback when her son-in-law, Mike Tindall, split his trousers dancing, revealing his underpants with the memorable logo ‘Nibble my Nuts’. ‘I’d rather not!’ the princess quipped.”
Anne is She is frequently considered the Royal Family’s most industrious member (Image: PA)
So, with her own immediate family life settled, it’s been debated by royal watchers whether Anne should lend her support to her brother Charles’ tricky situation regarding youngest son Prince Harry
Harry disclosed earlier this year he no longer speaks to his father, the King, whilst his bond with elder brother Prince William is also reportedly virtually non-existent. His grievances with his family were exposed in his autobiography, Spare, a reference to being a second-born child, like his aunt.
A source close to Anne allegedly revealed how if Harry had approached his aunt, she could have shared her precious experience of her position. And Jennie agrees it would have been an ideal notion.
She said: “Anne would have been the perfect person to offer advice and guidance – but, sadly, this is no longer relevant as Harry has made it quite clear that he has no desire to return to life as a working royal.
“She could have told her nephew that ‘playing second fiddle’ is the wrong way to look at his status. Instead, as she has shown, the second-born can be an invaluable support to the institution of monarchy, and a vital friend, confidant and wingman/woman to the monarch.
“She could have explained that they are a team, a firm, working together to keep the monarchy relevant and using their platform to help charities and communities.
Princess Anne and Major General James Maurice Hannan Bowder take part in the Household Division Musical Spectacular 2025(Image: Getty Images)
“It may be that the King has discussed his family troubles with Anne, but I rather doubt that she would want to get involved. To Anne, loyalty is paramount, and I suspect she feels that Harry has been extremely disloyal to his father, his brother and the monarchy. She might well find that hard to forgive.”
However, as Anne contemplates what lies ahead, she’s reportedly already considering what the future holds beyond her forthcoming birthday.
During a conversation earlier this year whilst visiting South Africa, she was questioned about stepping back from duties given the reduced number of working royals and confessed it “isn’t really an option”.
Sources have recently revealed there are no indications of her decelerating in the near term.
Indeed, insiders suggest she’s determined to continue her duties until she reaches at least 80, before gradually reducing her commitments and potentially retiring completely around 90 – mirroring her father Philip’s approach.
Whilst carrying on with her work appears certain, one aspect Jennie believes will almost certainly never occur is Anne embracing social media.
The princess has garnered a devoted following of online admirers, particularly on TikTok, thanks to her earlier years when she led a rather eventful romantic life, survived an attempted kidnapping – and donned the most stylish 1960s and 1970s fashion.
Even today, some of her garments from four to five decades past remain in her wardrobe, occasionally making appearances at official engagements.
Despite her newfound fanbase, Jennie concluded: “I think she’d be amused and bemused by the comments on TikTok, but I don’t imagine that she’d really give them a second thought. I don’t think social media is her scene at all.”
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