Who Is Princess Anne? Royal Takes Over 70% Duties Amid Family's Health Concerns

Amidst growing concerns over King Charles' health and heightened media scrutiny surrounding Kate Middleton, Princess Anne has emerged as the linchpin of the British monarchy, shouldering an astonishing 70% of the royal workload. Revelations from the Royal Diary have highlighted this significant uptick in Princess Anne's engagements, reflecting a pivotal shift in the dynamics of the royal family's responsibilities.

Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter, is known to define herself as someone who is not everyone's image of a fairy-tale princess. Even at 72 today, she is considered the most hard-working Royal. Also an Olympian, Princess Anne was appointed Princess Royal in 1987 and is currently fulfilling all the duties she is supposed to partake in after her mother's demise. 

Princess Anne's Heavy Workload and Mental Health Concerns

The Royal Diary, covering the period from March 18, 2024, to May 10, 2024, outlines Princess Anne's commitment to 55 public engagements. Her schedule is grueling, often involving multiple events in a single day, with recent trips to Scotland further adding to her workload. The sheer volume of responsibilities undertaken by Princess Anne has sparked concerns about her mental well-being, prompting discussions about the potential return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to active royal duty.

During the eight-week period in question, a total of 78 public engagements are listed, with  Princess Anne leading with 55 engagements. The breakdown reveals a significant workload distribution, with other senior royals such as the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Gloucester also contributing substantially to royal duties.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, emerges as a prominent figure in the royal activity hierarchy, closely following Princess Anne in terms of duties and engagements. Despite her secondary role, Sophie maintains a rigorous schedule, often supporting her mother-in-law's overseas trips and fulfilling ceremonial functions with dedication.

Who is Princess Anne?

Born on August 15, 1950, Princess Anne is the second child of the late Queen and the late Prince Philip. She went to boarding school to study in 1963, and inheriting her mother's enthusiasm for horses, she became an accomplished equestrian at a young age.

The princess defied royal convention by becoming a competitive equestrian, appearing in public competition at the age of 11. She became the first British royal to win a European gold medal in 1971. She married equestrian and army officer Mark Phillips in 1972, after winning the European Eventing Championship in 1971. Princess Anne represented Britain at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal but did not win a medal due to a horrific fall that caused her to give up horseback riding. In 1987, Anne was given the title Princess Royal, which is customarily bestowed on the monarch's eldest daughter.

Princess Anne and Captain Phillips divorced in 1992, and she later married navy commander, Timothy Laurence. They married in Scotland since the Church of England forbade divorcees from remarrying. Princess Anne and her first husband share two children, Peter and Zara. Breaking the custom, the couple had agreed that Phillips should not take a title so that their children might live their own lives. Zara is a successful equestrian and followed her parents' path to the Olympics.

Anne joined the International Olympic Committee in 1988 and also served on the London 2012 organising committee.

Earning the reputation of the most hardworking Royal

Having chosen not to attend university, Princess Anne dedicated her working life to charities, and her spontaneous work and long hours of routine earned her the title of most hardworking royal. Having taken on even more obligations in the past year owing to her mother's illness, she had 36 royal engagements scheduled for July alone, and in 2021 she had 387 meetings, two more than her elder brother, according to reports.

Anne supports hundreds of organisations and has been a patron of Save the Children for almost 50 years now. She supports approximately 300 charities, organisations, and military units, and consistently ranks first in the list of royal engagements. With her mother's demise, and her older brother taking over the reins, Anne is now expected to become a solid advisor for her brother, with whom she shares a close bond.

She was seen escorting her mother's coffin on the many stages of its final trip, while her elder brother got occupied with his duty as King Charles III. Princess Anne and King Charles are only 21 months apart in age.

In a previously unseen interview telecasted by ITV,  Princess Anne shared how her mother always led by example, with her children following suit by watching and learning. "There is no guidebook in that regard, it was about listening and learning, not making assumptions, and especially not throwing your weight around," she told ITV.

Calls for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Return

As Princess Anne shoulders an unprecedented workload, calls for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's return to the United Kingdom have grown increasingly vocal. The prospect of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle resuming their roles as working royals looms large, with proponents citing the urgent need to alleviate the mounting pressures faced by the royal family.

In a surprising turn of events, Prince Harry also finds himself involved in a legal dispute with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. Allegations of sexual misconduct and involvement in illicit activities have cast a shadow over Diddy's reputation, with Prince Harry's name inadvertently drawn into the fray. While there are no accusations directed at Prince Harry himself, his association with Diddy adds to the complexities of royal affiliations in the modern era.

In the coming months, the Royal Family anticipates a reduced presence in the public domain, with only a select group of official duty holders scheduled to make appearances. While notable figures such as the King, Prince William, and Kate Middleton may not feature prominently on the Royal Family calendar, their contributions remain integral to the monarchy's overall functioning and public image.