Princess Anne, who turns 75 on August 15, once offered a candid piece of advice to the next generation of the royal family. Speaking to Vanity Fair in 2020, she cautioned against “reinventing the wheel” when it comes to royal duties and traditions. Anne reflected on her own past work and suggested that younger royals sometimes overlook what has already been done. “We’ve been there, done that; some of these things don’t work. You may need to go back to basics,” she said. Though she did not name anyone, her comments were widely thought to be aimed at Princes William and Harry, both of whom have spoken about modernising the monarchy.
Reported Tensions Over Royal Duties
More recently, reports claimed that Anne was “annoyed” with Prince William over investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle. According to The Sunday Times, the Princess Royal has been conducting most of these events despite William living nearby at Adelaide Cottage, while she travels 90 minutes from her home at Gatcombe Park Estate. A source suggested she found it frustrating that William had taken on fewer of these duties, which involve formally presenting honours and awards from the king’s Birthday Honours list.
A Bond Despite Differences
Despite occasional tension, Anne is said to have a strong relationship with William. They are often seen supporting each other at official events, and after Anne’s recovery from a horse accident last year, William and Kate sent her a message calling her a “super trooper.” Anne has also shared fond memories of William’s childhood, recalling races around the square at Balmoral and joking that she excelled at the corners.