Princess Anne is celebrating her 76th birthday today, likely spending the day with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, and her children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips. While well-wishes pour in from royal fans, a former royal staff member has shared a surprising insight into what The Princess Royal is like away from the cameras.
Former Butler Shares Insights
Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles between 2004 and 2011, revealed exclusively to the Daily Express what surprised him most about Anne. Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Harrold said that Anne is exactly the same person in private as she is in public.
He said: "What surprised me most about meeting Princess Anne in person was the fact that she is exactly as you see her. There really isn't a huge difference between the person you see in public and the person you meet behind closed doors."
A Direct Yet Polite Personality
Harrold described Anne as "very straight to the point" and someone who "doesn't suffer fools," but also "incredibly polite and nice." He added, "She's got a lovely smile, and there's a warmth to her as well, but you always know where you stand with her."
He also noted that Anne resembles her late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, in many ways. "I've always said that, in many ways, she's got the attributes of both her mother and her father. She's inherited that incredible sense of duty and work ethic, but also that very direct, no-nonsense approach," he explained.
Private Birthday Celebrations
Anne's birthday plans are not currently known, but it is believed she will be celebrating privately.
