King Charles III celebrated his sister Princess Anne’s 73rd birthday by sharing a heartwarming glimpse into their childhood. The official royal account on X, formerly Twitter, posted a photo from the Royal Trust Collection that showcased the monarch and the Princess Royal as infants, as well as a never-before-seen image of the pair on coronation day.
In the charming black and white childhood snapshot, taken in July 1951 at Clarence House, a two-year-old Charles and an 11-month-old Anne were seated side by side in matching prams. Charles lovingly leaned over and held his little sister’s hand. Charles wore adorable pajamas with a Peter Pan collar, while Anne looked precious in white with a matching ruffled baby bonnet.
The behind-the-scenes photo from the king’s grand occasion on May 8 depicted Charles and Anne sharing a smile. Charles was decked out in his full royal regalia, including the esteemed Robe of Estate and the iconic Imperial State Crown, while Anne, who held the special role of “Gold Stick in Waiting,” wore a Royal Navy military uniform. The Gold Stick in Waiting traditionally serves as the king’s bodyguard and personal protector.
Anne, known as the “hardest working royal,” turned 73 on August 15. She is an accomplished equestrian who began competing at the tender age of 11. In 1976, she made history as the first royal to compete in the Olympic Games, riding her mother Queen Elizabeth II’s horse, Goodwill, in the equestrian team event at the Montreal Olympics.
During an interview with CBC, the princess humorously mentioned one advantage of her role as the Gold Stick. She stated, “I have a role as the colonel of the Blues and Royals in the Household Cavalry regiment as Gold Stick. And Gold Stick was the original close protection officer. So, that is a role I was asked if I’d like to do for this coronation, so I said yes. Not least of all, it solves my dress problem.”
It has been reported that Charles personally requested Anne to take on the special role of Gold Stick in Waiting, and she felt “incredibly honored” to fulfill the task. A Buckingham Palace insider stated, “The direction of the king’s decision is clear for all to see. He is rewarding the princess royal for her loyalty and unwavering devotion to duty above all else. The king values his sister as a trusted lieutenant, and this is the perfect example of such a relationship.”
While Anne has never served in the military, she holds several titles associated with the British armed forces. Last week, she and eight other working members of the royal family received new military appointments. In 2020, on the occasion of her 70th birthday, Queen Elizabeth bestowed upon her the titles of general in the British Army and air chief marshal in the Royal Air Force.
Continuing their tradition of honoring Anne’s ties to Scotland, Charles appointed her as the deputy colonel-in-chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. This role recognizes “her royal highness’s strong links to Scotland” in addition to her existing positions as colonel-in-chief of the 1st Battalion, The Ranger Regiment, and the 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Anne is happily married to retired navy officer Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence. The couple exchanged vows in 1992, the same year Anne finalized her divorce from her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. From her previous marriage, Anne has two children, Peter Phillips, 44, and Zara Tindall, 41.
As King Charles III continues to celebrate significant moments within the royal family, he shares glimpses into his childhood and the remarkable contributions of his sister Princess Anne.
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