Princess Anne Issues Strict Warning to Royal Family Ahead of Milestone Birthday: ‘I Won't Do...’
Princess Anne has long built a reputation for being the most no-nonsense, practical member of the royal family, celebrated for her unfussy, businesslike approach to both royal duties and personal milestones. Over the years, she has set herself apart with her straightforward demeanor, quietly becoming what many consider the 'most industrious royal,' the Daily Mail reported. As another milestone birthday approaches, Anne’s plans reflect her trademark simplicity, hinting at a celebration that’s quite different from what you’d expect for one of Britain’s most respected royals.
The Princess will mark her 75th birthday on August 15. According to Roya Nikkhah, royal correspondent and host of the Royals with Roya and Kate podcast, the Princess Royal wants to keep her birthday celebrations simple and low-key. Nikkhah revealed that Anne “has even canceled meetings” to avoid discussing any elaborate plans for her birthday, The Times reported. Anne reportedly follows a strict 'rule' when it comes to her special days: “Anne's policy is: 'I will do things for my birthdays that have a zero, but I won't do things for my birthdays that have a five.'”
Stepping back from royal duties a little, the Princess has allegedly shared with her close team, “I'm going to start winding down a little bit at 80 in five years' time... and then I want to step back completely at 90.” This timeline is said to mirror that of her late father, Prince Philip, who retired from public life at the age of 96. As for her 75th, she is set to spend 10 days sailing around western Scotland with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, a longstanding tradition they enjoy twice a year. This trip, described as her 'happy place,' will be taken without any royal staff on board.
A friend of the Princess recently told The Times, “It speaks to their relationship. They go every May and August and have done it for years. How many couples could go out to sea that often, just the two of them, and still be speaking to each other? She loves it.” After her sailing trip, Anne is expected to join King Charles and the royal family at Balmoral. Her understated approach underscores her reputation as the most non-fussy royal, showing how she balances duty with private milestones that truly matter.
The Princess Royal has been known as the busiest and most hardworking royal. In 2024, she completed 217 official engagements. Meanwhile, her brother, the King, ranked second. At 74, the Princess Royal carried out 31 more duties than Charles, who completed 186 engagements. This is despite Anne taking a brief break in June after suffering a major concussion from a horse kick, and the King receiving treatment for cancer.