As she marks her 75th birthday on August 15, Princess Anne – often hailed as the hardest-working royal and the King’s “most trusted lieutenant” – has stunned both the Palace and King Charles with a bold, unflinching declaration about her royal future.
Despite reaching a milestone age, the Princess Royal made it clear she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. Speaking to those close to her, Anne revealed her personal “retirement plan” – one that has left even senior courtiers in disbelief.
“I’m going to start winding down a little at 80, and then I want to step back completely at 90,” she reportedly told her team.
The statement, made privately but now confirmed by royal insiders, mirrors the late Prince Philip’s work ethic, who stepped away from public duties at 96. For King Charles, already navigating a packed schedule while undergoing cancer treatment, Anne’s pledge of continued service comes as both a reassurance and a reminder of her unmatched stamina.
“Like a Mountain Goat”
Anne’s relentless energy was recently praised by Tanya Curry, CEO of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, where Anne has served as patron since 2008. Recalling a royal tour, Curry admitted she struggled to keep pace with the Princess:
“I asked her if she wanted to take the lift or the stairs. She was up the stairs, as a security guard described, like a mountain goat. I was trying to keep up and have a conversation without being out of breath – but it was all just in her stride.”
This remarkable stamina is no surprise. In 2024, Anne carried out an astonishing 474 royal engagements, surpassing even the King’s 372. And in 2025, she’s already completed seven international trips – including visits to Ireland, South Africa, Barbados, and Belgium.
A No-Frills Royal Who Writes Her Own Rules
Known for her practicality and refusal to indulge in unnecessary pomp, Anne even applies this approach to her own birthdays. Royal editor Roya Nikkah revealed the Princess’s strict policy:
“Anne’s policy is: ‘I will do things for my birthdays that have a zero, but I won’t do things for my birthdays that have a five.’”
In fact, she has been known to cancel meetings just to avoid birthday fuss, preferring to keep her focus firmly on her duties.
The King’s Right Hand
Behind palace doors, Princess Anne is seen as a stabilizing force during a time of transition for the monarchy. Admirers point to her sharp wit, pragmatic decision-making, and willingness to speak her mind – even if it means disagreeing with others.
As she enters her 75th year, the Princess Royal is not stepping back – she’s doubling down on her promise to serve, ensuring that her presence will be felt in the heart of the monarchy for years to come.
And in true Anne fashion, she’s doing it her way – with quiet resolve, unshakable discipline, and the stamina of, as one royal guard put it, “a mountain goat.”
