Not Prince William or Kate, This Royal Is the Most 'Laid-Back,' According to Former Royal Butler
While Prince William and Kate Middleton may attract criticism for low work count, this royal butler has a different opinion.
In the past few years, Prince William and Kate Middleton have drawn the ire of royal fans for their low count of engagements, while the much more senior King Charles and Princess Anne record some of the highest within the monarchy. However, when it came to naming the most “laid back” member of the royal family, it wasn’t William or Middleton that a former royal butler picked, but a royal that nobody would quite guess.
Grant revealed that Anne was, in fact, the most “laid back” royal in the Firm. The Princess Royal’s mention is especially shocking, given that her relentless work ethic has earned her the ‘hardest working royal’ badge over the years. “While she is often in work mode, she is also one of the most laid-back members of the Royal Family, but don’t let that catch you off guard,” he said via Marie Claire, but not before warning, “She is very much like her father—she will catch you out.”
The Olympian attended the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last week. Talking about her appearance at the coveted tournament, Harrold mentioned that it was “nice to see her more laid back”. The 75-year-old opted for casual attire: dark trousers, a striped shirt, and a denim jacket. Talking about her choice of outfit, Harrold said, “We usually see her dressed to impress and in work mode, but she has really stripped it back. I think she is starting to lean into the new era of the Royal Family and the modern way they are doing things.”
Harrold also shared that no one should think of crossing the Princess Royal. “She is absolutely lovely, but you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her,” he said. The former royal butler further mentioned that he didn’t “really see any sign of Princess Anne slowing down her royal duties”. He added, “She is a workaholic. If you look over the past couple of years, she hasn’t stopped.”
Anne has continued to “step up” for her elder brother, becoming one of the monarchy’s strongest members. Harrold mentioned that she was “very detail-oriented like her mother, Queen Elizabeth” and would likely carry forward the late monarch’s inspiring legacy. “I truly think she will continue working like her mother up until a very old age,” he shared.
The Princess Royal is certainly one of the most loved members of the royal family. In the YouGov polls of July this year, she finished third behind the Prince and Princess of Wales with a whopping 70% favorable rating.
