Princess Anne, celebrated for her unwavering strength and no-nonsense demeanor, showed a rare moment of emotion on her 75th birthday—making it a milestone she’ll never forget.
On Friday, the Princess Royal marked her special day quietly, in true Anne fashion, choosing privacy over pageantry. Despite the modest celebrations, her birthday didn’t go unnoticed by the Royal Family—or the public.
While several senior royals attended the VJ Day commemorations, the Prince and Princess of Wales took a moment to honor Anne with a touching gesture. Sharing her official birthday portrait on social media, Prince William and Princess Catherine wrote:
“Wishing Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal a very Happy 75th Birthday!”
The post was met with a wave of admiration from royal fans. One follower wrote, “As always, a lovely and gracious post from our Prince and Princess of Wales.” Another praised Princess Anne herself, saying, “She is so elegant and beautiful! Age is just a number. A very happy birthday to her.”
Others joined in with heartfelt wishes:
“I hope that she has an absolutely lovely day and I hope that you get to spend some time with her soon,” one fan shared. “What a beautiful photo and outfit. Wishing HRH The Princess Royal a very Happy Birthday,” added another.
This isn’t the first time William and Kate have publicly celebrated Anne. Last year, they shared a collection of photos to mark her birthday, originally posted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. The montage included a charming black-and-white snap of a young Anne picnicking with her brother Charles in 1954, as well as more recent moments, such as a joyful photo of Anne at the 2023 Buckingham Palace Garden Party and a touching image with King Charles ahead of his coronation.
To mark her 75th this year, Buckingham Palace released a striking new portrait of the Princess Royal, taken by photographer John Swannell at her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire. Dressed in a royal blue outfit with crisp white detailing, Anne is seen smiling calmly beside a window—graceful, confident, and true to herself.
Despite the significance of turning 75, Anne had reportedly asked her aides to keep things low-key, joking that she only celebrates birthdays ending in a zero, “not the fives.” True to her word, the Princess is spending the day privately with her husband of 33 years, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. The couple are believed to be enjoying their traditional sailing holiday around the Western Isles of Scotland.
A life of service, a quiet celebration, and a heartfelt message from her beloved family—Princess Anne’s 75th birthday may have been understated, but it was undeniably special.
