Next week, Princess Anne will turn 75. Amid extraordinary times, this milestone celebrates her unwavering commitment to royal duty and public service through charitable work honed over a lifetime. Her blunt style is matched by her fierce commitment. Instead, she usually comes in just below the Princess and Prince of Wales on YouGov’s list of the most popular royals. As she looks forward to this landmark celebration, her life and legacy are still inspiring countless others all across the country.
In 2025—just imagine what 2025 would look like—Princess Anne, a paragon of public service, has already gone on seven overseas visits. This past week, though, she boarded a plane across the pond to Ireland for her latest trip. Prior to that, she visited incredible cities such as Cape Town, Lausanne, Athens, Gallipoli, Barbados and Belgium. These public appearances demonstrate her growing influence within the royal family. Just as much, they reflect her fierce desire to engage with communities from all over the world.
Princess Anne is always shoulder to shoulder with her brother, King Charles, whom she notoriously refers to as “Old Bean”. She has been a loyal rock in the royal family. Her warmth and authenticity have earned her praise as much as her unwavering commitment.
A Legacy of Service
Princess Anne’s commitment to duty is most clearly illustrated by her more than 60 years of charity work. Since 1970, she has promoted Save the Children with a deep passion. So far, in her journey she has visited over 30 countries and mobilized more than 27,000 supporters. She has been Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) an enthusiastic volunteer and advocate since 1971. This pledge deepens her credentials as a champion for equity on many fronts.
Her commitment to duty is only exceeded by her flawless engagement attendance record. During the year 2024 Princess Anne overtook King Charles with a total of 474 engagements. This extraordinary burst of activity is a testament to her tireless dedication to public service and advancement of charitable causes.
“You can see that she cares about the state of Britain and the state of the world.” – Moazzam Malik
Her warmth, openness and real passion for her role have made her a beloved public servant. Royal Editor accounts describe her as someone who is “not interested in someone holding an umbrella for her if it rains” and who “doesn’t mind getting wet.” It’s this unpretentious “service-minded” sensibility that continues to connect her with the people she encounters.
Fashion and Family Time
According to Princess Anne, her fulfilled desire for this birthday will be to spend time with her family. This year, they’ll come together at Gatcombe Park, her cherished Gloucestershire estate, which she’s lived on since 1977. Most famously, her son, Peter Phillips, still lives on the estate and just welcomed his own engagement announcement with long-time girlfriend Harriet Sperling.
Here’s how Princess Anne embodies sustainable fashion principles. She has chosen the same gown in which she will sit for her birthday portrait as she used for her official 70th anniversary portrait. This decision underscores her long-standing commitment to eco-friendly practices and adds an effortless, pop-star-appeal touch of classic elegance.
“This personifies what Her Royal Highness cares about.” – Palace source
She looks back fondly on her time visiting different fashion and textile companies. She still recalls “the smell of fresh paint.” At every stage of her prestigious career, she has consistently focused on the need to champion and nurture British craftsmanship and industry.
Future Endeavors and Resilience
As Princess Anne reaches her born-on date, speculation about retirement has been met with surprising adamancy. When asked about stepping back from royal duties, she replied, “It isn’t really an option. I don’t think there’s a retirement programme on this particular life.” This short statement sums up her endless and stubborn commitment to service.
Her commitment hasn’t been lost on those around her. Former diplomats appreciate having someone with her level of experience in their midst: “I will be listening carefully because I don’t have any other colleagues who have been around for quite so long,” one diplomat noted.
Princess Anne’s humility and kindness are present in every interaction. Tanya Curry remarked on her human approach: “She’s incredibly kind, and her human approach comes across.” Meanwhile, Michael Bishop praised her determination: “She was full of determination to be with us.”
