Anne, Princess Royal

Anne, Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise; born 15 August 1950), is a member of the British royal family. She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the sister of King Charles III. Born third in the line of succession to the British throne, she is 18th in line as of 2026. She has held the title of Princess Royal since 1987.

Born at Clarence House, Anne was educated at Benenden School and began carrying out official royal duties in early adulthood. She is a distinguished equestrian and won one gold medal at the 1971 and two silver medals at the 1975 European Eventing Championships. In 1976, she became the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympic Games. She has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1988.

Anne continues to undertake engagements and official duties on behalf of the monarch – she has attended more than 20,000 such events since commencing royal duties in 1968. She presently serves as patron or honorary president of more than 300 organisations, including WISE, Riders for Health, Carers Trust, and Transaid. Her charitable work focuses primarily on sport, science, disability, and health in developing countries. She has been closely associated with Save the Children for over 50 years and has visited numerous projects supported by the organisation worldwide.

In 1973, Anne married Captain Mark Phillips; the couple separated in 1989 and divorced in 1992. They have two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall. In 1992, she married Commander (now Vice Admiral) Sir Timothy Laurence, whom she met during his service as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II.

Early life and education

Anne was born on 15 August 1950 at Clarence House in London when her grandfather, King George VI, was king. She is the second child and only daughter of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, who later became Queen Elizabeth II, and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. When she was born, she was third in line to become the British monarch, behind her mother and older brother, Charles, who later became King Charles III.

Anne was taught at home by a governess named Catherine Peebles, who also looked after her brothers. Because she was very young, Anne did not go to her mother's special ceremony in 1953. She later went to Benenden School, where she finished her school studies in 1968. She started taking on duties as a member of the royal family when she was 18 years old.

Equestrianism

Anne loved horses and started competing in events when she was young. In 1971, at just 21 years old, she won a big competition called the European Eventing Championship on her own horse named Doublet. That same year, she was chosen as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. She also raced in famous events like the Grand Military Steeplechase and the Diamond Stakes.

Anne was part of the British eventing team for many years. She helped the team win silver medals at the 1975 European Eventing Championship. In 1976, she rode in the Olympic Games in Montreal. Even after getting a head injury during the race, she got back on her horse and finished. She has taken part in many horse trials and even rode in a charity race in 1985.

She has helped many horse-related groups, including being president of an international horse organization and supporting a group that helps people with disabilities learn to ride.

Marriages and children

Marriage to Mark Phillips

Further information: Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, Wedding dresses of Princess Anne, and Descendants of Elizabeth II § Children of Anne and Mark

Princess Anne met Mark Phillips, a soldier, in 1968. They got married in a big ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 1973, watched by many people on TV. They had two children, Peter and Zara Phillips, and later they separated and divorced.

Marriage to Sir Timothy Laurence

Princess Anne met Timothy Laurence, a sailor, in 1989. They got married in a private ceremony in Scotland in 1992. The wedding was small, with only about 30 guests. Timothy was knighted later, but did not receive a special royal title.

Kidnapping attempt

On 20 March 1974, Princess Anne was returning to Buckingham Palace when a car forced her car to stop. A man named Ian Ball tried to take her away and asked for a large amount of money. He tried to hurt Princess Anne and some people who were trying to help her, but she stayed safe. The man was later taken into care for his health, and the way royal protection worked was changed to keep everyone safer.

Activities

Anne, Princess Royal, takes on many important tasks for the Queen. She has been very busy with public events and visits since 1969, when she first opened a training center in Shropshire. She travels to other countries up to three times a year and has visited places like Norway, Jamaica, Germany, and Australia. In 2022, she and her husband visited Australia and Papua New Guinea to celebrate a special event for the Queen. In April 2026, she opened a garden to honor her mother's birthday.

Anne supports over 200 charities and organizations. She has worked closely with Save the Children for many years and has visited their projects in many countries. She also helps with first aid training, supports young people in sports, and is involved with universities and many other groups that help people. Anne’s work has been recognized around the world, and she continues to be an important part of supporting good causes.

Public image and style

Anne has been called a very reliable and hardworking member of the royal family. Since turning 18, she has taken part in over 20,000 public events. When she was younger, some people thought she was unfriendly, and she once told photographers to go away during an event. Over time, she became known for being very dedicated to her duties and has often been called the hardest-working royal.

People admire Anne for her simple and practical style. She often recycles her outfits and prefers clothing from British designers. She has supported many causes, including groups that help make sailing accessible to everyone. Even when people asked if she wanted to retire on her 60th and 70th birthdays, she said no, because she wanted to keep working. Anne is also known for doing things her own way, like doing her own hair and sometimes driving herself to events.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Main article: List of titles and honours of Anne, Princess Royal

Titles and styles

Anne is the seventh Princess Royal, a special title given only to the oldest daughter of the queen or king. Before her, her great-aunt, Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, held this title. Princess Mary was the daughter of King George V.

Honours

Anne has received many important awards. She is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and an Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. She also serves as Grand Master and Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and is a Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Additionally, she has been given the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II and the Royal Family Order of Charles III. She also works as a Personal Aide-de-Camp to the queen or king.

Ancestry

Anne's family history goes back a very long way. One of her early ancestors was Cerdic, King of Wessex, who lived from 519 to 534.