Behind-the-scenes photo of King and Anne at coronation marks princess’s birthday
The royal family’s official social media accounts celebrated the Princess Royal’s 73rd birthday on Tuesday.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The royal family has wished the Princess Royal a happy birthday, sharing a behind-the-scenes photograph of her with the King on Coronation Day.
Anne turned 73 on Tuesday and the monarchy’s official social media accounts posted a new image of Charles and his younger sister at Buckingham Palace after the May 6 ceremony.
The newly-crowned King is wearing the Imperial State Crown, his purple satin coronation tunic and Robe of Estate and smiling warmly at his sibling, who is dressed as Colonel of the Blues and Royals in a red plumed hat and military uniform.
The message reads “Wishing Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal a very Happy Birthday today!” and also includes a family archive picture of two-year-old Prince Charles sweetly leaning over to hold 11-month-old Anne’s hand in 1951.
They are sitting side by side in their prams, with Anne wearing a knitted bonnet tied under her chin.
The public tribute contrasts with the Duchess of Sussex’s birthday earlier this month, when the royal family’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, did not post a birthday message for Meghan for the second year running.
Usually just working members of the monarchy are recognised on royal social media channels, but the royal family’s account did so for Meghan’s birthday in 2021 and 2020 after she had quit as a working royal.
Anne was born at Clarence House on August 15 1950 – the only daughter of Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and the Duke of Edinburgh.
She was at the late Queen’s bedside in Balmoral Castle when she died in September last year, and this is her first birthday since her mother’s death.
Anne is known for her no-nonsense approach and her work ethic.
Involved with more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments, she is considered one of the hardest-working members of the royal family.
She is the mother of silver medal-winning Olympic horsewoman Zara Tindall and businessman Peter Phillips, and is married to second husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Anne once remarked: “As a young princess I was a huge disappointment to everyone concerned. It’s impractical to go around in life dressed in a long white dress and a crown.”
A skilled horsewoman, the princess won the individual championship at Burghley in 1971, and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
She also competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics as a three-day eventer in the British equestrian team.
In 1974, she survived an attempted kidnapping when a gunman tried to abduct her and then husband Captain Mark Phillips as they were being driven along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
She kept her cool, and when the gunman, Ian Ball, told her to “come with me for a day or two” because he wanted £2 million, she replied: “Not bloody likely – and I haven’t got £2 million.”