Princess Anne to stay working until her son's Gloucestershire wedding
Princess Anne to stay working until her son's Gloucestershire wedding
Dorothy Reddin Mon, June 1, 2026 at 10:25 AM UTC
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Princess Anne remains focused on her royal duties in the days before her son Peter Phillips ties the knot on Saturday, having recently completed an official visit to Greece.
Rather than preparing for her role as mother of the groom, the Princess Royal continues with a packed schedule of engagements throughout this week, with commitments running until just two days before the wedding.
Her dedication comes during a challenging period for the monarchy following the arrest of her brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Anne recorded 478 official engagements last year, placing her second only to the King in the royal work rankings, and 2026 shows no sign of slowing down.
Throughout this demanding period, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence has been a constant and reassuring presence at his wife's side.
The retired naval officer accompanied Anne on her recent trip to Athens and Crete, where she marked the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete during World War Two.
His role mirrors that of the late Duke of Edinburgh, who provided similar steadfast support to Queen Elizabeth II throughout her reign.
Princess Anne | Source: GETTY
During their three days in Greece, Sir Tim maintained his characteristically discreet yet dependable presence as Anne visited an RAF memorial honouring members of the 30 and 33 squadrons who perished in the 1941 battle.
The couple also attended a Service of Remembrance at Souda Bay War Cemetery and witnessed a Red Arrows flypast.
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Royal biographer Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, emphasises Anne's unwavering commitment: "The Princess Royal doesn't stop, and she is the family member the King can rely on absolutely.
"The Andrew fallout has undoubtedly rattled her and the family, and she is determined to serve her brother as he steadies the throne."
Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips | Source: GETTY
He continued to tell Hello!: "She turns up, does the job, gets back in the car. She never shies away from her duties and responsibilities. Such work is what holds the institution together."
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, highlights the strength of Anne's marriage to Tim, which began in 1992 following her divorce from Captain Mark Phillips.
"He is always there for her, which I think is what she wanted in her second marriage," Ms Seward observed. "She wanted someone who was around a bit and would support her in her very hard-working life."
Despite her reputation as a no-nonsense royal, Anne possesses a gentler side that emerges around her five grandchildren.
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence | Source: REUTERS
In a 2020 ITV documentary marking her 70th birthday, Peter Phillips and his sister Zara Tindall spoke warmly of their mother's involvement with the younger generation: "She loves seeing them ride; she loves having them round for Sunday lunches and taking them for walks, doing all the things that we would do as kids."
Ms Seward notes that while Anne has always declined to be photographed kissing babies publicly, "she's different with her own grandchildren and she obviously adores them."
This Saturday's wedding will offer a brief glimpse of that softer side before the Princess Royal returns to her packed schedule just days later, demonstrating her characteristic dedication to the Crown during turbulent times.
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