Sir Tim Laurence Jokes About Princess Anne’s Type When It Comes to Husbands
Princess Anne's husband once made a rare and surprising comment about her ex Mark Phillips, revealing an unexpected family dynamic.
Princess Anne’s work ethic might be the most talked-about aspect of her, but her personal relationships are just as fascinating. For 34 years, her marriage to Sir Timothy Laurence has stood the test of time. Interestingly, their love story began in the very same year she finalized her divorce from her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips.
In a world of messy divorces, Princess Anne maintains a healthy relationship with her ex, and Sir Timothy gets along with him just as well. He even joked about a key trait he shares with Captain Mark Phillips in the 2020 ITV documentary Anne: The Princess Royal at 70, calling it rather “amusing” that both of the Princess Royal's husbands had military careers.
Timothy said, “It's quite amusing that she married first an Army officer and then a Naval officer. So there must be something about the military that attracts her.” It was a rare moment of candor from the Princess Royal’s husband, who appeared more than happy to joke about the connection.
Anne first crossed paths with Sir Timothy while she was still married to Mark Phillips. At the time, Timothy was serving as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II following a stint aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The two grew close, but their romance was thrust into the spotlight when a bundle of Anne's private letters to Timothy was stolen from her briefcase and leaked to The Sun. Following the media storm, Anne separated from Mark in 1989 and finalized their divorce in 1992. Later that same year, she and Timothy wed in a quiet ceremony at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral—a stark contrast to her massive 1973 wedding at Westminster Abbey, which was watched by millions.
Peter Phillips, Anne’s son, who also recently got married for the second time, spoke of his mother and stepfather's lasting bond, saying, “They both have an understanding of what being a part of the wider family means and what is required. And for the last 25 years plus, they’ve been together now, he’s been a very strong support for her.”
Royal author Ingrid Seward suggested Peter may be hoping to build the same kind of lasting, stable marriage that his mother has enjoyed, with Harriet. She previously told HELLO!, “I’m sure Peter thinks that he would like this marriage to be like his mother’s. He is always there for her, which I think is what she wanted in her second marriage.”
