Princess Anne, often regarded as the hardest-working royal, celebrates her 76th birthday today, and there are no signs her diary is about to get any lighter. Despite her age, she remains committed to her duties, having once said that retirement 'was not an option' for her.
No Plans to Slow Down
While many people of a similar age are content to collect their pensions and enjoy downtime, insiders say the Princess Royal is keen to keep working until she is at least 80 before considering slowing down. In 2025, only her brother, the King, completed more engagements than her, with analysis of the Court Circular showing she carried out 478 public appearances. Charles carried out 52 more.
Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that there are three main motivations for keeping her diary busy: "I think the princess finds her work interesting and worthwhile. She has a strong sense of supporting the monarchy and pulling her weight in the slimmed down core of working royals. And she consistently does a great deal more than simply pull her weight, carrying out hundreds of engagements a year and often cramming three or four into a single day."
A Close Bond with the King
Anne was born on August 15, 1950, at Clarence House, just two years after Charles and just before her mother Elizabeth II's life changed forever with her accession to the throne. Their time together in their early years, as the late Queen and their father, Prince Philip, often went off on long overseas tours, allowed them to form a lifelong bond. During his Coronation, Charles handed her the prestigious role of 'Gold-Stick-in-Waiting' in a gesture of thanks for her unwavering support.
Jennie added: "The King relies on her a great deal and they are very close. I think he values her wise counsel and probably talks many things through with her – when they get the chance to be together. It would be extraordinary if the two of them had not discussed the crises over Andrew and Harry, and I'm sure Charles would take her views very seriously."
Outspoken on Slimmed-Down Monarchy
Anne has been outspoken on the 'slimmed-down monarchy' previously championed by Charles. In an interview for Canadian TV, she was asked about the concept and replied: "Well, I think the 'slimmed-down' (monarchy) was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment." When it was put to her that the world changes, Anne said: "It changes a bit. I mean, it doesn't sound like a good idea from where I'm standing, I have to say. I'm not quite sure what else, you know, we can do."
Jennie explained: "She has spoken about how the working royals are now stretched pretty thin, and she doesn't see an opportunity to retire, even if she wanted to. Obviously that might change with the passage of time, but there's every likelihood she will go on into her 90s like her mother. Or perhaps she will call it a day at 90, like her father."
Recognition and Future Plans
In the coming weeks, the Princess Royal will be able to enjoy some time away from duties, and is likely to spend time with the rest of the Firm for the traditional Balmoral holiday. But come September, she will be back, travelling up and down the country visiting countless charities and organisations, and representing her older brother on the world stage.
Jennie, who was the BBC's royal correspondent for 14 years, has had first-hand experience of seeing the princess at work. She said: "Anne has always been very businesslike in her work: extremely well briefed, thoroughly professional and committed. I've never heard any charity or cause she has espoused deliver anything but the highest praise for the way she supports them. In the past she hasn't had the recognition she probably deserved because she seemed to disdain the reporters or cameramen who tried to cover her engagements. But I think in recent years her attitude has softened somewhat; she gets more coverage and the public have definitely come to realise how important she is to the monarchy – and the monarch. As she turns 76, though, I think the princess should be quietly pleased that her contribution to public life is now far more appreciated than ever before."
