Home > HEIRS & SPARES > PRINCESS ANNE

Princess Anne Cleverly Avoids Talking About Andrew After She Was Asked About 'Her Brother'

Princess Anne visits the Gallipoli Barracks on Remembrance Day; (Inset) Andrew Mountbatten Windsor at the Duchess of Kent's funeral service. Cover Image Source: Getty Images| Patrick Hamilton-Pool; (Inset) Max Mumby/Indigo
Princess Anne visits the Gallipoli Barracks on Remembrance Day; (Inset) Andrew Mountbatten Windsor at the Duchess of Kent's funeral service. Cover Image Source: Getty Images| Patrick Hamilton-Pool; (Inset) Max Mumby/Indigo
Nov. 12 2025, Published 03:48 AM. ET
Link to Facebook Share to X Share to Flipboard Share to Email

Princess Anne is hailed as the hardest-working royal, quietly fulfilling her duties with little media fanfare. The Princess Royal is also known for her no-nonsense approach, never shying from speaking her mind. During her recent visit to Australia on November 11, she deftly dodged a question about her embattled brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. When the President of the Royal Australian Regiment Association mentioned meeting the former Prince, possibly to seek insight, Anne quipped that she had three brothers, swiftly shutting down the exchange.

Princess Anne visits the Gallipoli Barracks on Remembrance Day in Brisbane, Australia. (Image Source: Getty Images| Patrick Hamilton-Pool)
Princess Anne visits the Gallipoli Barracks on Remembrance Day in Brisbane, Australia. (Image Source: Getty Images| Patrick Hamilton-Pool)

In light of Mountbatten Windsor's various scandals, many remain eager for any new gossip about him. Among the curious was James Thorpe, President of the Royal Australian Regiment Association, who decided to try his luck. According to GB News, when Thorpe mentioned that he had met 'her brother', Anne retorted, "Which one? I have three." Thorpe responded, "Ah, that’s the main one, Ma'am," prompting laughter from the Princess Royal. Anne was in Australia to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Signal Corps, where she met several Australian servicemen and women. Her light-hearted approach allowed her to gracefully navigate the awkward situation and maintain the royal family's privacy.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt (Master of the Household to King Charles III), and Princess Anne, Princess Royal attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby)
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Princess Anne attend the Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

As for her stance on her embattled brother, Anne is reportedly done with his antics after he put the royal family through a lot. Commenting on her outlook on the recent havoc, royal expert Christopher Anderson told Us Weekly, "Anne has long sided with the King. She is as fed up with Andrew as Charles and William are." The expert also claimed that Mountbatten Windsor, who was allegedly the late Queen Elizabeth's 'favorite child,' thought he could get away with his dark past. He added, "But as the scandals keep piling up, he is increasingly resigned to the fact that he has dug a hole for himself he can't climb out of."

Known for her relentless work ethic and quiet sense of duty, the Princess Royal is one of the most dependable figures in the royal family, something that Mountbatten Windsor severely lacks. A Palace insider also told the outlet, "Anne represents everything the monarchy is supposed to stand for — hard work and respect. For Andrew, who has lost all of that, it’s a bitter pill to swallow." Within the family, her loyalty to King Charles and Prince William has reportedly only strengthened amid the ongoing turmoil.



It seems like William may have also taken a page from his clever aunt's books, as he was also faced with an awkward situation about the former Prince. While in Brazil for his Earthshot Prize awards, CNN's Christiane Amanpour pointedly asked him if he would pursue 'change for good, ' "given the fact that there’s been a lot of change in your own family recently," referring to Mountbatten Windsor's scandals. To which the Prince of Wales smartly replied, "I think The Earthshot Prize is a classic example of change. Rather than talk about it, we're doing it," adding that he wanted to surround himself with "people who want to make change and do good in the world."

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories