Princess Anne is often regarded as the ‘hardest working’ member of the royal family, and Prince William, the future King, no doubt admires his aunt’s devotion to the monarchy.
But perhaps their work goals differ ever-so slightly – as several sources claiming to be close to the Princess Royal, 74, told The Sunday Times that the King’s sister would like to see her nephew do more ‘bread-and-butter’ royal engagements.
For instance, only the monarch, Princess Anne and Prince William perform the investitures, the formal ceremonies where those who have been awarded a royal honour receive their insignia.
Many of these take place at Windsor Castle, near the Prince of Wales’ home of Adelaide Cottage.
A source close to Princess Anne told the publication: ‘She’s still doing most of the investitures [at Windsor] even though William lives there. It annoys her.’
The Royal Family’s official website notes that around 30 Investitures are held each year, with over sixty recipients attending each ceremony, either in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, or in the Grand Reception Room at Windsor Castle.
‘Investitures also happen occasionally at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, or overseas during State or Royal visits,’ adds the site. ‘Investitures are hosted by The King, The Princess Royal and The Prince of Wales.’
Elsewhere in The Sunday Times article, published ahead of the royal’s 75th birthday, it was revealed that Princess Anne’s injuries after suffering a concussion last year were ‘much worse’ than the public knew at the time.
Princess Anne is often regarded as the ‘hardest working’ member of the royal family, and Prince William (both pictured in June 2025), the future King, no doubt admires his aunt’s devotion to the monarchy
The Princess Royal was admitted to intensive care last June with concussion and head injuries after reportedly being kicked by a horse at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.
She was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for tests, treatment and observation, before returning to duties that July.
Now, a source said to know Anne well has told The Sunday Times that her accident was ‘so much worse’ than initially revealed at the time.
They said: ‘Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again.’
Following her accident, Anne was forced to miss at least nine engagements, including a trip to Canada and a banquet for the Japanese State Visit in London.
When Anne returned to work in July, she was seen sporting a black eye.
Prince William and Kate shared a rare personal message on X/Twitter, writing: ‘Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon. W&C x.’
The royal, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, was going for a walk when the incident occurred.
William, Kate and Anne stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on July 10, 2018 in London
Princess Anne, Prince William and the Princess of Wales at Windsor Castle, on September 06, 2023
The Princess Royal is often regarded as the ‘hardest working’ member of the royal family. Last year, Anne clocked up 474 engagements, with King Charles completing 372.
She has been a cornerstone in the King’s slimmed-down working monarchy, and has played a big role by stepping up in support of Charles amid his cancer diagnosis.
The Princess is known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty, and the King made a point of making public his ‘fondest love and well-wishes’ for his sister after her accident.
Anne was understood at the time to have been taking an evening stroll on her estate with horses nearby when she was hurt.
The Princess was left with minor wounds to the head. Her medical team are understood to believe the injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs.
In January, speaking out about the accident for the first time, Anne said she remembers ‘nothing’ about it.
Talking at the Grand Military Cup Day at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, after a whirlwind trip to South Africa, Anne revealed that she was on the way to see chickens on her estate when the accident happened.
When questioned whether the last thing she recalled was walking into a field, Anne said: ‘No, I don’t even remember that.
Princess Anne ‘s injuries after suffering a concussion last year were ‘much worse’ than the public knew at the time, it has been revealed. Pictured in July 2024
The royal, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics , was going for a walk when the incident occurred. Pictured in January
‘I know where I thought I was going and that was to go to the chickens, no, nothing to do with horses.’
She added that seeing the chickens was ‘my regular visit, I don’t have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way.
‘It just… shows you – you never quite know, something [happens], and you might not recover.’
Anne spent five nights in hospital after the accident on June 23 and did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later.
Asked about any lasting ill effects, she lightened the mood and joked: ‘Apparently not, at least I don’t think so. As far as I know, nobody else thinks so – they haven’t been honest enough to tell me yet. So far so good.’
She added: ‘You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really.’
Interviewed after a whirlwind two-day tour of Cape Town, Anne also discussed her future and was asked whether retirement was an option, she replied: ‘It really isn’t written in, no. It isn’t really an option, no, I don’t think so.’
Her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, did retire from royal duties in 2017, but he was 96 when he took the decision and had supported Queen Elizabeth II for more than 65 years at the time.
Anne is known for her busy work schedule, and as she approaches her 75th birthday in August, the royal will continue to lead the monarchy in various engagements.
The Princess Royal during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in June 2023
She carried out her first public engagement in 1969 aged 18 when she opened an educational and training centre in Shropshire, and a year later, she began her longest association with a charity, becoming president of Save the Children and later patron.
Anne has two children – Peter Phillips, 47, and Zara Tindall, 44 – from her first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips, before their divorce in 1992. She has been married to Sir Timothy Laurence since December that year.
Anne said: ‘I don’t think there’s a retirement programme on this particular life. You’re jolly lucky… if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis and last summer I was very close to not being.’
She added: ‘Take each day as it comes, they say.’
Last month royal fans praised Anne’s unwavering dedication to royal duties as she joined the King’s birthday parade on horseback – one year after being hit in the head by a horse.
