She’s known as one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family, but Princess Anne has had an extraordinary life away from her royal duties. From competing in the Olympics to winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year, here are 10 fascinating facts you may not know.
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Princess Anne is one of the most recognisable members of the Royal Family, but there’s far more to the Princess Royal than her famously busy schedule of royal engagements. She has competed at the Olympics, survived an attempted kidnapping and even appeared on a BBC quiz show.
We asked royal commentator and etiquette consultant Jo Hayes of Etiquette Expert to share some of the lesser-known facts about Princess Anne, alongside some fascinating details about her family, career and distinctive style.
“Princess Anne has always worked hard throughout her life and career and does so at a cracking pace,” explained Jo Hayes.
“Not only is she a faithful and constant champion of the various charities of which she is a patron and ambassador of, she has achieved and experienced remarkable things in other non-royal spheres of life. And then there are some interesting facts about her children and her style that you may not know.”
Here are 10 facts about the Princess Royal that might surprise you:
1: Her Olympic achievements.
The royal family is known for their love of horses, with Princess Anne a distinguished equestrian. In 1976 she became the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympic Games, representing Great Britain (no medal unfortunately, but a gold medal effort to be at Olympic standard, I say). So, that’s 50 years ago this year
2: Her title the ‘Princess Royal’
The Queen bestowed this title on her daughter in 1987 … it’s a title that can be bestowed by the monarch (similar to the way the King bestowed Prince William and Princess Catherine with the title, ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales’ etc.).
It’s a title typically given to the eldest daughter of a reigning monarch.
Princess Anne was the second child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip (behind King Charles), the first and only daughter.
In 1994, the Queen appointed her to the Order of the Garter, but the Princess Royal requested to be a Knight of the Order, and not a Lady.
A very interesting decision, I think. I personally prefer the title ‘lady’ – she is a woman after all, and ‘lady’ sounds so elegant and refined – but such is the free, individual thinking of one Princess Anne.
3; She was a victim of an attempted kidnap
Most people, especially the younger generations, have never heard about one of the more frightening parts of Princess Anne’s younger life.
In 1974, soon after she was married to her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, she was the victim of an attempted kidnap.
It happened on The Mall, as she and her husband were returning to Buckingham Palace. The would-be kidnapper shot her bodyguard and driver, and pointed his pistol at the Princess, demanding she come with him. A ransom note was later found in his car, demanding 2 million pounds (equivalent of $23 million pounds today).
The 24-year-old Princess proved she was no shrinking violet, famously responding with, “Not bloody likely,” … several men, including a police man and a former boxer, were nearby and tried to intervene …. the Princess apparently argued with the attacker for about 15 minutes, refusing to go with him, before police reinforcements finally arrived and arrested the man.
4: She passed her love of horses down to her daughter
In addition to her own Olympic pursuits, she passed down a love of equestrian to her daughter, Zara Tindall (nee Phillips), who competed with the British Equestrian team at the Olympic Games in London 2012, becoming the second member of the British royal family (behind her mother) to compete in an Olympics games. And … she won a medal! Silver in the Team Eventing… thus, becoming the first member of The British Royal Family to medal in the Olympics.
5: Her hairstyle
Princess Anne has kept the same hairstyle for over half a century.
While many women her age keep their hair cut short, the Princess Royal has maintained her long hair, though styled consistently in a swept up do, the 1960’s-inspired bouffant style she is famous for.
Why? Practicality is #1 – It’s fast to style herself, and can take her from day-time charity event to evening gala, easily pairing with hats and tiaras alike.
She also doesn’t colour her hair, and as far as one can tell, has had no aesthetic tweaks, like Botox or fillers.
6: Her accessories
She often wears adidas Team GB sunglasses. In fact, on the team GB website. It says: “Remembered in recent years for donning her iconic bucket hat and visor sunglasses in the stands, Princess Anne truly is Team GB’s number one fan.
“Those have lasted her since 2008! Those pictures are probably some of the most iconic from Paris 2024.”
7: She was a Nobel Peace Prize award nominee
Princess Anne was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 by President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. She was nominated for her work as president of charity Save the Children across two decades.
8: She has a theatre named after her
Princess Anne was President of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) from 1972 to 2000. The main cinema theatre at BAFTA’s headquarters, 195 Piccadilly, was renamed The Princess Anne Theatre in her honour.
9: She won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 1971.
This was a huge moment for Princess Anne as she was the first member of the royal family to win the award, in recognition of her involvement in equestrian sport,
10: She competed on a TV quiz show
In 1987, Princess Anne became the first member of The Royal Family to appear as a contestant on a television quiz-show – notably the BBC panel game, A Question of Sport. She did very well, correctly answering equestrian questions. According to reports, over 19 million people watched the show.
