Former royal chef Darren McGrady has shared a story that highlights Princess Anne's sharp wit, recalling an encounter between the Princess Royal and an RAF officer after a flight to Balmoral.
McGrady, who worked for Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princes William and Harry for fifteen years, described Anne as "fantastic" and compared her sense of humour to that of her late father, Prince Philip. The Princess Royal's "wicked wit" is widely recognised and has been documented previously. McGrady shared the tale following her 76th birthday on August 15.
The exchange on the aircraft steps
The incident occurred as McGrady was "coming down the steps" from the aircraft, where he spotted an "RAF gentleman" experiencing Anne's swift humour as he welcomed her after the flight.
Speaking to Heart Bingo, Darren said: "I adore the Princess Royal; I think she's fantastic. She has Prince Philip's sense of humour. I remember getting off the plane to Balmoral, and I was coming down the steps."
He continued: "There was an RAF gentleman greeting her. He said good afternoon and asked how the flight was. She was having none of it. She just said: 'Have you ever flown before?'."
He replied: "Well yes, Your Royal Highness," and she just replied, "Well, it was just like that".
Anne's dedication and stamina
Despite recently marking her 76th birthday, Anne has maintained her status as the Royal Family's hardest-working member. Throughout the past year, she completed 474 official engagements, exceeding even King Charles in her schedule.
In another account concerning the princess, Tanya Curry, chief executive of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, provided an illustration of Anne's exceptional "stamina." She admitted to struggling to "keep up" with Anne during a royal visit to Leeds Rhinos alongside the late rugby player Rob Burrow and his family.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, she disclosed: "The stamina that she brings, mentally and physically, is amazing. I asked her if she wanted to take the lift or the stairs. She was up the stairs, as a security guard described, like a mountain goat."
"I was trying to keep up with her and have a conversation and not be out of breath, and it was all just in her stride. She walks into a room and lights it up."
A quiet birthday celebration
The Princess Royal, who champions over 400 charitable causes and organisations, also gathered a number of them at a Buckingham Palace reception earlier this year. Reports indicate this was the sole manner in which she desired to mark her birthday.
