Anne, Princess Royal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anne |
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| Princess Royal (more) | |||||
Anne in 2023
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| Born | Princess Anne of Edinburgh 15 August 1950 Clarence House, London, England |
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| Issue Detail |
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| House | Windsor | ||||
| Father | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | ||||
| Mother | Elizabeth II | ||||
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| Education | Benenden School | ||||
Anne, Princess Royal (born Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise on 15 August 1950) is a special member of the British royal family. She is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She is also the only sister of King Charles III. Anne was born third in line to the British throne. Today, she is 18th in line. Since 1987, she has held the title of Princess Royal, which is a title for life.
Princess Anne grew up at Clarence House and went to Benenden School. She started her royal duties when she became an adult. She became a very skilled horse rider. She won a gold medal in 1971 and two silver medals in 1975 at the European Eventing Championships. In 1976, she made history. She was the first British royal family member to compete in the Olympic Games. Later, in 1988, she joined the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Princess Anne does many official jobs for the King. She supports or leads over 300 groups. These include WISE, Riders for Health, and Carers Trust. Her charity work often focuses on sports, science, people with disabilities, and health. She has worked with Save the Children for more than 50 years. She has visited many of their projects around the world.
Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. They separated in 1989 and divorced in 1992. They have two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, and five grandchildren. A few months after her divorce in 1992, Anne married Commander (now Vice Admiral) Sir Timothy Laurence. She had met him when he worked for her mother, the Queen.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Anne was born on 15 August 1950, at Clarence House in London. Her grandfather, King George VI, was the King at the time. She is the second child of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. When she was born, she was third in line to the British throne. This was after her mother and older brother, Charles. In 1952, after her grandfather passed away and her mother became Queen, Anne moved to second in line. She is currently 18th in line.
A special teacher, Catherine Peebles, taught Anne and her brothers. This early education happened at Buckingham Palace. Anne was too young to attend her mother's coronation in June 1953.
In May 1959, a Girl Guides group was started again at Buckingham Palace. This was so Anne could meet and play with girls her own age. Her mother and aunt, Princess Margaret, had also been Girl Guides. This group was active until 1963. That year, Anne went to boarding school at Benenden School. She finished school in 1968 with good grades. She started her royal duties in 1969, when she was 18.
Princess Anne's Love for Horses
| Medal record | ||
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Representing  United Kingdom |
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| Equestrian | ||
| European Championships | ||
| Gold | 1971 Burghley | Individual eventing |
| Silver | 1975 Luhmühlen | Team eventing |
| Silver | 1975 Luhmühlen | Individual eventing |
Princess Anne is a very talented horse rider. In spring 1971, she placed fourth at the Rushall Horse Trials. At 21, she won a gold medal at the European Eventing Championship. She rode her own horse, Doublet. Because of this, she was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1971. She also rode winners in horse races.
For over five years, Anne was part of the British eventing team. She won two silver medals in the 1975 European Eventing Championship. The next year, she competed in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. She rode the Queen's horse, Goodwill. Anne had a fall during the event but bravely got back on her horse and finished. The British team had to leave the competition because two horses were hurt.
Anne was the president of the Fédération Équestre Internationale (International Equestrian Federation) from 1986 to 1994. In 1987, she was the first royal to appear on a TV quiz show called A Question of Sport. She has been a supporter of the Riding for the Disabled Association since 1971. She became its president in 1985 and still holds this role.
In June 2024, Anne had a minor accident with a horse. She was taken to Southmead Hospital with small injuries and a concussion.
Marriages and Family
Marriage to Mark Phillips
Anne first met Mark Phillips in 1968 at a party for horse lovers. He was a lieutenant in the army. They announced their engagement on 29 May 1973. On 14 November 1973, they married at Westminster Abbey. About 100 million people watched the ceremony on TV. They lived at Gatcombe Park. Mark Phillips was offered a special title, but he and Anne said no. This meant their children were born without royal titles.
Anne and Mark had two children: Peter Phillips (born 1977) and Zara Phillips (born 1981). They now have five grandchildren. On 31 August 1989, Anne and Mark announced they would separate. They had not been seen together much in public. They shared care of their children. On 13 April 1992, the Palace announced Anne had filed for divorce. It was finalized ten days later.
Marriage to Sir Timothy Laurence
Anne met Timothy Laurence, a commander in the Royal Navy. He was working on the Royal Yacht Britannia. Their friendship grew in 1989. This was three years after he started working for the Queen. In 1989, a newspaper revealed that Timothy had sent private letters to Anne.
The couple married at Crathie Kirk in Scotland on 12 December 1992. It was a small, private ceremony with about 30 guests. The Church of Scotland allowed divorced people to remarry, which was different from the Church of England at the time. Anne was the first royal divorcée to remarry since Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. For the wedding, Anne wore a white jacket and a simple dress. Timothy Laurence did not receive a special title when they married, but he was knighted in 2011.
Kidnapping Attempt
On 20 March 1974, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips were returning to Buckingham Palace. A car stopped their Rolls-Royce on Pall Mall. The driver, Ian Ball, got out and started shooting a pistol. Inspector James Beaton, Anne's bodyguard, tried to protect her. He was shot by Ball. Anne's driver, Alex Callender, was also shot when he tried to help. A journalist nearby, Brian McConnell, also got involved and was shot.
Ball came to Anne's car and said he wanted to kidnap her for money. Anne famously replied, "Not bloody likely!" She even thought about hitting him. She later said she was "scrupulously polite" to him. Anne managed to get out of the car. A passerby, Ron Russell, helped her get away from the scene. A police officer, Michael Hills, arrived and was also shot by Ball. But he had already called for help. Another officer, Detective Constable Peter Edmonds, chased and arrested Ball.
Beaton, Hills, Callender, and McConnell were all hurt but recovered. For his bravery, James Beaton received the George Cross from the Queen. Hills and Russell received the George Medal. Callender, McConnell, and Edmonds received the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Anne visited Beaton in the hospital to thank him. After this event, royal security was greatly improved.
Ball was arrested and later found to have mental health issues. He was kept in a special hospital. The attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne has been featured in TV shows and books.
Royal Activities
Public Appearances
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Princess Anne carries out many duties for the King. Someone who worked with her once said, "Her motto is, 'Keep me busy. I'm here to work.'" In 2017, it was reported that she had done the most official events of any royal family member that year. She often travels to other countries for royal visits. She has visited places like Norway, Jamaica, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia.
Anne's first public event was in 1969, opening a training center. She travels abroad for the UK up to three times a year. She started these trips after leaving school. In 1970, she went to Australia with her parents. She has returned many times for official duties. In 1990, she was the first royal to make an official visit to the Soviet Union. She was a guest of President Mikhail Gorbachev.
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In August 2016, she visited Russia for a special anniversary. In September 2016, she had a chest infection and had to cancel some events. In April 2022, Anne and her husband visited Australia and Papua New Guinea. This was to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. On 12 September 2022, Anne made history. She was the first woman to take part in a "Vigil of the Princes." This is when royals guard the coffin of a monarch. She did this for her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in Edinburgh and London.
Charity Work and Patronages
Anne is involved with over 200 charities and organizations. She works a lot for Save the Children. She was their president from 1970 to 2017 and has been a patron since then. Anne has visited their projects in many countries, including Bangladesh and South Africa. Because of her work, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. She also started The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in 1991.
Anne is a British representative in the International Olympic Committee. She was also part of the committee for the London Olympic Games. She is the president of the British Olympic Association. In 1985, she became president of the Riding for the Disabled Association. She also supports student sports.
Since 1981, Anne has been the Chancellor of the University of London. She was president of BAFTA from 1973 to 2001. In 2007, the Queen appointed her Grand Master of the Royal Victorian Order. She is also a Royal Fellow of the Royal Society. In 2011, she became Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, taking over from her father. She also took on other roles that her father had held. In 2023, she became president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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Anne is a patron of Transaid, a charity that helps with safe transport in developing countries. She also supports WISE, which encourages young women to work in science and engineering. She is a patron of the Royal National Children's Foundation and Aerospace Bristol. In 2022, she became honorary chair of the National Lighthouse Museum's campaign. She is also a patron of many other groups, including the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the Scottish Rugby Union.
In 2025, Anne became a patron of Friends of the Elderly. This role was previously held by Queen Elizabeth II for over 60 years.
Titles and Honours
Anne is the seventh Princess Royal. This special title is given only to the eldest daughter of the King or Queen. The last person to hold this title was Princess Mary, Anne's great-aunt.
Princess Anne has received many honours. She is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. She is also a Grand Master and Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. She has received special family orders from both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.
Family Tree
| Name | Born | Marriage | Children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Phillips | 15 November 1977 | 17 May 2008 Divorced 14 June 2021 |
Autumn Kelly |
Savannah Phillips |
| Zara Phillips | 15 May 1981 | 30 July 2011 | Mike Tindall |
Mia Tindall |
See also
In Spanish: Ana del Reino Unido para niños
