A 100-year-old Second World War veteran has told the Princess Royal that she needs to 'slow down' during a conversation at a Buckingham Palace garden party. Robert (Bob) Piper, a D-Day veteran, was among the first to greet Anne at The Not Forgotten association's annual event on Tuesday.
Princess Anne's Busy Schedule
Anne, known for being one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, joked with the veteran as she mingled with guests from the charity, which supports ex-servicemen and women. Mr Piper told the Press Association: 'I said to her, you know, she's got to slow down. She's done it so many years and she is a pro, she knows all the answers before you do.'
The Royal Patron
The Princess Royal, who serves as patron of The Not Forgotten association, appeared on the palace's West Terrace steps alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. As she spoke with veterans on the lawn, guests remarked that 'you brought the sun,' to which she laughed and replied that it was 'never anything to do with me, I promise.'
Despite overcast skies, ice cream was served on silver trays, and more than 2,000 guests gathered in high spirits, with service dogs also joining the festivities. When rain began to fall, Anne quickly produced a green umbrella with a duck handle, matching her green hat and dress.
Stories of Resilience
Mickey Turner, who rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, briefly spoke to Anne about his arduous challenge. He told the Press Association: 'What I said to her royal highness is it was about raising the profile of mental and physical health, which is something I am really passionate about. There is a lot of people here today that are on that journey as well.'
Mr Turner, a former Royal Marine, described the rowing ordeal: 'We had food for 50 days and we were on the ocean for 59 days. We got pinned in a storm about 15 days in and at one point if we hadn't have kept rowing we would have gone backwards. It became a battle of survival ... It was the most beautiful thing I have done but the most scary as well.' He has also canoed from Leeds to Liverpool to raise funds for The Not Forgotten association.
Other Guests
Veteran Jean Farguson, 99, spoke to the princess about what it is 'like to be at this age.' She told the Press Association: 'I'm very lucky, much healthier than all of my friends.' Speaking about being at the palace, she added: 'It is very exciting, seeing so many people and very interesting to come up to London today, don't often do that nowadays.'
Silhouette statues and poppies from the Standing With Giants exhibition were displayed around the palace garden. This year, the charity paid particular respect to the 15th anniversary of the end of the Iraq War on May 22, and the 60th anniversary of the end of the Borneo Confrontation in 1966.
