The Princess Royal has once again charmed the public with her famously dry wit, after a clip from a recent engagement showcasing her humorous side was widely shared online.
A Royal Command with a Twist
Princess Anne, 75, was marking the 35th anniversary of a London-based equine charity, the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, in February. During the event, she was invited to cut a commemorative cake. Addressing reporters and onlookers gathered for the ceremony, the Princess Royal issued a characteristically droll instruction.
"I hope you all had a chance to see this cake because it really is stunning," she began. "The instructions are that you will eat it if I cut it. Otherwise, it's just legalised vandalism. So, enjoy the cake!" Her remark prompted immediate laughter from the crowd.
Public Adoration and Family Likeness
The moment, described by many as 'hilarious', quickly echoed across social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Royal fans were quick to express their admiration for Anne's unpretentious and sharp sense of humour.
One user declared, "I adore her," while another fondly noted she is "a brilliant woman and so like her mother." A third observer astutely added, "She has a great sense of humour. Dry like her father, cheeky like her mother!"
The visit held particular poignancy, as it took place just three days after her brother, King Charles III, publicly announced his cancer diagnosis. The Princess Royal was seen carrying her own umbrella while touring the centre, where she met volunteers who provide riding and equine therapy for children with physical disabilities.
Sister Mary Joy Langdon, founder of the centre, told the Princess that staff "wish you and your family well at this time," to which Anne responded with a brave smile, reinforcing her reputation for unwavering dedication to royal duty.
A Legacy of Royal Wit
Princess Anne's humorous nature strongly recalls the late Queen Elizabeth II's own wit. The Queen famously made a similar cake-cutting joke during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, just three months before her passing.
As she plunged the knife into the cake, the late monarch quipped, "I think I might just put the knife in it... someone else can do the rest." Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen was known for her amusing one-liners, a trait that appears to have been inherited by her only daughter.
Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, has previously spoken about this shared characteristic. In a 2020 documentary, he said, "The similarities with her father are much talked about, but what is less spoken about is the similarities with her mother, the Queen. The common theme is humour and fun."
During the charity visit, Anne, who is Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, was accompanied by BHS President Martin Clunes and chief executive James Hick. The clip further cements Princess Anne's standing as both the hardest-working and the funniest member of the Royal Family, a combination that continues to endear her to the public.
