Princess Anne Just Broke a Major Royal Protocol with Her Lip Stick Choice — But We Love It
Royal looks are often safe, polished, and predictable, which is why even the smallest deviation gets noticed. But every family has an outlier, and this time, it’s Anne.
Royal fashion rarely delivers surprises. With their rotation of sensible coats, modest dresses, and well-worn silhouettes, the family tends to choose practicality over risk. Royal looks are often safe, polished, and predictable, which is why even the smallest deviation gets noticed. The same applies to their beauty routines, that is, neat, with neutral nails and barely-there makeup. But every family has an outlier, and this time, it’s Princess Anne.
Anne's recent embrace of bright, petal-toned lipsticks has quietly broken through the royal monotony, adding an unexpected burst of color to a world usually painted in neutrals. Her recent appearance at Singapore’s National Orchid Garden was a surprise, with Anne showing no intention of sticking to the classic royal palette. The Princess Royal stepped out wearing a glossy raspberry shade that practically beamed back at the orchids around her. She matched the vibrancy with a sunshine-yellow blazer. However, the rest of the look stayed true to her character and personality, that is, the softly powdered complexion, the familiar bouffant she has returned to after briefly unveiling a sleeker style for her 75th birthday.
Interestingly, this is not the first time she has experimented with her lip color. Last June, she experimented with a cherry-toned lipstick with a metallic finish. She has also long embraced strong reds, the kind that would have once, upon a time, stirred storms in the Palace, and upset her mother, the Queen.
Anne is often praised as one of the most consistently well-dressed royals, sticking closely to the classic styles that have defined her wardrobe for decades. The Princess Royal usually steps out in her signature fitted skirt suits for formal engagements, occasionally switching things up with tailored jackets and sharp cigarette trousers. On off-duty days, she keeps it casual in checked shirts and relaxed jeans. So when she arrived at a Windsor Castle reception earlier this year, wearing an outfit unlike anything she’s been seen in before, it immediately caught the attention of royal watchers.
Similarly, for hosting a special dinner within the walls of Windsor Castle, across Commonwealth Nations, Anne stepped out in a cobalt blue, long-sleeved gown, classic royal territory, but there was a twist. The dress included bold cut-out detailing, a striking departure from her usual, more traditional silhouettes.
She has always been known to stray from the mundane. HELLO’s lifestyle writer Katie Daly says that color is one of the royal family’s secret weapons, and Anne uses it better than most. “With her wardrobe featuring a full spectrum of brightly coloured outfits, Princess Anne proves she isn't afraid to take fashion risks,” she notes. Daly adds that one of Anne’s strengths is her ability to be playful with color while still choosing tones that work beautifully with her complexion and hair.
