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She is widely recognised as the hardest working royal, having carried out 457 engagements in 2023 and more than 170 since the start of this year.
But Anne, the Princess Royal, impresses for numerous other reasons too.
In 1994, she made history as the first woman to be made a Knight of the Order of the Garter, after insisting that she should not be a ‘Lady’ of the order.
And in 2022, she became the first female royal to participate in the Vigil of the Princes, following the death of her mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
She was also the first woman to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year when she received the gong in 1971.
As for her love of horses, that passion took her to the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as a competitor. Again, she was the first British royal to compete at the Olympics.
We also must not forget her response to would-be kidnapper Ian Ball when he demanded that she get out of her car after the gunman ambushed her down The Mall in 1974. ‘Not bloody likely!’, she told him.
And, throughout the years, Anne has evolved into a fashion icon, often revisiting her favourite outfits from the 1970s and 80s.
The royal possesses a sharp wit, too. She once humorously gifted her brother, King Charles, with a toilet seat to symbolise his ascent to ‘the throne’.
Here, we showcase 20 times Princess Anne has demonstrated her status as an unsung heroine.
1. BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner
Princess Anne was awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1971 after winning the individual title at the European Eventing Championship with her horse, Doublet. Above: Being handed the trophy by boxer Henry Cooper
2. First British royal to compete at the Olympic Games
As for her love of horses, that passion took her to the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as a competitor. She was the first British royal to compete at the Olympics. She rode Goodwill, one of the Queen’s horses. Above: Anne on her horse during the games
Anne has had a lifelong love of horses. Above: At the weekend visiting a riding school in Canada
3. First female royal to take part in Vigil of the Princes
When her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died, Anne made history as the first female royal to participate in Vigil of the Princes, where children of the monarch watch over the coffin during lying-in-state
4. Heroic reaction to attempted kidnap
In 1974, Ian Ball approached Princess Anne and Mark Phillips as they were returning to Buckingham Palace by car. He began firing a gun, injuring three people, including Anne’s chauffeur and personal police protection officer. When Ball demanded Anne to get out of the car, she replied: ‘Not bl***y likely!’. She escaped the ordeal when Ball was wrestled to the ground by a passing boxer who punched him in the head (pictured visiting her bodyguard, Inspector James Beaton, at Westminster Hospital)
5. TV quiz show appearance
In 1987, Anne became the first member of the Royal Family to appear as a contestant on a TV quiz show, participating in the BBC’s A Question of Sport. She appeared to relish the quips, even when referred to as ‘mate’
6. Marrying a commoner
Defying royal tradition, Princess Anne married ‘commoner’ Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. It marked the second instance in 200 years that a royal had wed someone who did not inherit a title from their father. But the pair did divorce in 1992. Later that year Anne married Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
7. Humble character
During an interview with Terry Wogan in 1982, Anne was questioned about the kind of life she would lead if the Royal Family was abolished. She said she would have to ‘work even harder on the farm’ and that ‘out of necessity’ she qualified as a ‘heavy goods vehicle driver’
8. Setting the Lindo Wing tradition
Anne started the tradition of royal mothers holding their newborn babies outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital when she was photographed with Zara in 1981. Her son Peter, however, was carried by a midwife (pictured in 1977)
9. Always having a pen to hand
Anne opts to use her own pen when signing documents, ensuring she won’t be caught off guard like King Charles in 2022
10. Unwavering commitment to duty
During an interview with Vanity Fair on her 70th birthday, Anne explained her deep commitment to duty: ‘It comes from an example from both my parents’ way of working and where they saw their role being. I mean, my father served; it was a more direct form of service, I suppose you could argue. And the Queen’s has been a lifelong service in a slightly different way, but they both have that perspective of service, which is about working with people.’ (Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pictured in 1979)
11. Fuss-free beauty regime
Speaking to Town and Country, actress Erin Doherty, who played Princess Anne in The Crown, explained how it took hours to create her iconic hairstyle. However, during the ITV documentary, Anne: The Princess Royal at 70, Anne responded to the interview, saying: ‘I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean it takes me 10 or 15 minutes’
12. Inspiring an Italian fashion house
After watching her at the coronation, fashion designer Silvia Venturini Fendi named Anne ‘the chicest woman in the world’. She subsequently designed the Fendi men’s autumn/winter 2024 collection using the Princess as her muse
13. Giving her children a ‘normal’ life
Princess Anne chose not to give her children, Peter and Zara, hereditary titles. Zara has conveyed her appreciation for the decision, once saying: ‘From my point of view, I was obviously very lucky that my mother didn’t give us any titles so I really commend her on that. We were very lucky that we got to do it a bit our own way’
14. First female Knight of the Garter
Princess Anne was installed into the Order of the Garter in 1994. She insisted on receiving the same title as her brothers – Knight – as opposed to the traditional Lady, therefore becoming the first female Knight of the Garter
15. Repeating outfits
Anne is renowned for repeating outfits. This turquoise dress, for example, was debuted in 1978 during a state visit by the President of Botswana. The Princess also wore it for a visit to Brompton Cemetery in 2022, during the 2023 Royal Ascot, and while touring the Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai in March
16. Adjusting to virtual engagements
During the Covid pandemic, Anne joined her late mother in a video call with NHS carers. Before the meeting started, Anne asked: ‘Can you see everybody? You should have six people on your screen,’ to which the late Queen replied: ‘Yes, well I can see four…’ Anne jokingly quipped that there was no need for the Queen to see her as ‘you know what I look like!’
17. Humorous Christmas presents
The royal family is known for exchanging humorous presents at Christmas. One year, Anne presented her brother Charles with a toilet seat, poking fun at his notoriously long wait to ascend to ‘the throne’
18. Fashion icon
Unafraid to make a sartorial statement, Anne has been praised for her fearless fashion choices on multiple occasions over the years
19. Light-hearted sibling rivalry
In 1984, Anne was interviewed by US host David Frost. When questioned about the most challenging part about being a royal, she quipped: ‘Trying to look stupider than my brothers’
20. Brimming schedule
Princess Anne is widely known as the hardest working royal. In 2023, she carried out a total of 457 engagements, surpassing King Charles who undertook 425 engagements
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