The Princess Royal Celebrates 62nd Birthday

Princess Anne was born on 15 August 1950 at Clarence House, as the only daughter and second child of then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. At the time of her birth, she was third in the Line of Succession, after her mother and elder brother. She was baptised at the Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of York two months after her birth. The Princess’s Godparents were: Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother), Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark, Hereditary Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and the Honourable Andrew Elphinstone.

Shortly after her 23rd birthday, Princess Anne married Lieutenant Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey: the ceremony was broadcast around the world and gathered an audience of 100 million. Before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth offered a peerage title to Mark Phillips so that their future children have at least courtesy styles and titles; however, the couple declined in the hope their children will be able to lead a normal life as untitled commoners. Anne and Mark had two children together – Peter and Zara Phillips.

Peter Phillips is currently managing director at SEL UK. On 17 Mary 2008, he married his wife, Autumn Kelly: the couple has two children – Savannah (born 2010) and Isla (born 2012). Zara Phillips followed her parents’ footsteps career-wise and became a highly successful equestrian: Mark Phillips had won gold in 1972 Munich Olympics, while Princess Anne was European Eventing Champion and represented Team GB in 1976 Montreal Olympics. Zara became European Eventing Champion (individually and as part of the British team) in 2005 and World Eventing Champion in 2006. More recently, she won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics as part of the Team GB Eventing Team.

Princess Anne and Mark Phillips divorced on 23 April 1992, after nearly 20 years’ marriage. The Princess then married Commander Timothy Laurence on 12 December 1992. The ceremony, which took place in Scotland, was the first time a divorcee British Royal re-married since the Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine did son in 1905.

The Princess Royal has been a full-time working royal since her youth and for many years was also the most hard-working: until very recently, she carried out the most engagements of any member of the Royal Family, although Prince Charles has now taken the top spot. The Princess carries out about 500 engagements every year, she is involved with over 200 charities and patronages. Her most prominent role is perhaps with Save the Children, of which she has been president since 1970. Princess Anne has also initiated The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in 1991. Her love for sport manifested itself in work with the International Olympic Committee: she is a British representative in the IOC and a member of the London 2012 Organising Committee. As with other senior royals, Princess Anne holds a number of honorary military appointments. In 2002, she wore her Royal Navy Uniform for the funeral of the Queen Mother, becoming the first non-reigning woman to attend a funeral in uniform.

Her strong and stubborn character showed itself quite early on, with the most notable incident being the kidnap attempt. In response to a would-be kidnappers order to comply, the Princess replied: Not bloody likely!” Her hard work, no-nonsense attitude and two children who would be credit to any parent have made Anne one of the most popular British Royals.

A Very Happy Birthday to the Princess and many returns.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Biography, Birthday, Captain Mark Phillips, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Peter Phillips, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Zara Tindall.

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