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Protocol Wars: Princess Anne's 'Hilarious' Reaction to Queen Camilla's Unusual Etiquette Request

Princess Anne, 74, conferred an honorary doctorate on Queen Camilla, 77, but not before the two no-nonsense royals shared a laugh over protocol.

Her Majesty Queen Camilla was made an honorary doctorate of the University of London by the college's Chancellor, Princess Anne, on Wednesday, November 20.

However, the important event was not without some humor as the Princess Royal found a royal protocol breach request from the Queen "hilarious."

Upon arrival, the Queen invited the Princess Royal to enter the room first, but Anne, a longtime stickler for adhering to ancient royal protocol, smirked and insisted Her Majesty enter before her due to rank.

King Charles III's consort has long been cherished within the monarchy for her down-to-earth appeal and charm, which one commenter on X said was "likely the reason the princess chuckled."

Anne once said of the Queen, "I've known her a long time, off and on. Her understanding of her role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding. This role is not something that she would have been a natural for, but she does it really well. And she provides that change of speed and tone."

Although Camilla is the Queen and is addressed as "Her/Your Majesty," many royal fans easily get confused by thinking Anne still outranks Camilla since the Princess Royal is a "blood royal." Although that is true in some situations with princesses of the blood vs. royal spouses, Camilla fully outranks the "hardest-working" British royal in this scenario.

A King or Queen, be it a reigning queen, consort or dowager, are the only individuals in the British monarchy that can be styled as "Majesty," which is the highest form of address in the U.K.

All other senior royals are "Royal Highness."

Princess Anne continues to win praise as the British royal family's "standout" senior member.

"Princess Anne has saved the royal family on many occasions, she is the family's workhorse you want something done, you ask Princess Anne, and she will do it," former royal butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, Paul Burrell, said on behalf of Spin Genie.

"I have nothing but respect and admiration for her, she works tirelessly for the royal family brand and never complains, she just gets on with it," he added. "Princess Anne will be 'Anne the reliable.' She is a workhorse, she is stoic, she is reliable, she is everything the royal family needs; and, she is her father's daughter."

In mentioning Anne's frequent comparison to her equally hardworking, late father, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Burrell continued, "His work ethic was the same. He never veered away from anything and always hit things straight on. Princess Anne may rely on the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who are very responsible too, but everybody knows Princess Anne, she has always been there."

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Daily Express reported on Anne's protocol laugh.