Princess Anne Gets Blunt Advice From 100-Year-Old Veteran — and Her Reaction Said It All
Princess Anne, patron of The Not Forgotten Association, warmly mingled with veterans at Buckingham Palace's garden party on Tuesday.
It's no secret that Princess Anne is widely regarded as the hardest-working royal and praised for her famous no-nonsense attitude. She brought that same energy to The Not Forgotten Association's annual garden party on May 19, warmly mingling with the veterans and keeping the atmosphere light. During the event, she happened to chat with a 100-year-old veteran, Robert 'Bob' Piper, who offered her a significant piece of advice — to slow down with her relentless work ethic. While Anne listened politely, it is unlikely she will take the suggestion, given her strong sense of duty.
As reported by the Independent, Anne, who's the patron of The Not Forgotten association, which provides support for ex-service men and women, was greeting members of the charity as refreshments were being served. There, she met Piper, a World War II veteran, who spoke about his meaningful military service. Recalling his conversation with the Princess Royal, he told reporters, "I said to her [Anne], you know, she's got to slow down. She's done it for so many years, and she is a pro; she knows all the answers before you do." While she patiently listened, she was more interested in knowing about his career.
Another armyman, Micky Turner, who rowed 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, also shared details of his wonderful conversation with the Princess Royal, saying, "What I said to her royal highness was about raising the profile of mental and physical health, which is something I am really passionate about." Reminiscing about a tough challenge during his service, he added, "We got pinned in a storm about 15 days in, and at one point, if we hadn't kept rowing, we would have gone backwards. It became a battle of survival … It was the most beautiful thing I have done, but the most scary as well."
Despite the gloomy weather, more than 2,000 delighted guests attended the celebration, enjoying ice cream served on silver trays, while service dogs also participated. When it began raining, Anne quickly opened a green umbrella with a duck-shaped handle that matched her outfit and hat. As she spoke to veterans on the grass, some guests quipped, "You brought the sun," to which she jokingly retorted that it had "never anything to do with me, I promise." This year, her charity honored the 15th anniversary of the Iraq War, as well as the 60th anniversary of the end of the Borneo Confrontation in 1966.
In a similar vein, Anne also mingled and joked with attendees during a Royal Garden Party hosted by King Charles on May 6. There, she met an adorable hearing-assistance dog, Vegas, and began playing with him. As per the Daily Mail, she warmly asked the pet pooch, "Is it everyone or is it just me?" in reference to its excited greeting. Anne, who's her late mother's daughter when it comes to her love for dogs, also quipped, "Oh, it's quite all right. It's a good size," when the pup began digging the palace lawns.
