The Royal Family share surprising facts about Princess Anne in the countdown to her 75th birthday
The Princess Royal will celebrate her birthday on Friday, and to mark the occasion, her family has shared fun insights about her that the UK public might not have known previously.
'Did you know? The Princess Royal edition,' the Instagram caption read, adding, 'Swipe across for fun facts about Her Royal Highness as we mark her 75th Birthday this week - more on royal.uk!'
The first fact in the post revealed details of her birth, explaining, 'Her Royal Highness was born Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Clarence House on 15 August 1950, VJ Day, at 11:50 am.'
The fact was accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth holding Princess Anne as a newborn.
The second fact read, 'Princess Anne joined the 1st Buckingham Palace Company of Brownies and Guides in 1959.
'This group had first been created in 1937 for her mother, then Princess Elizabeth, and was reinstalled for Princess Anne.'
The following fact revealed insight into Anne's charitable pursuits, explaining that she supports over 399 charities, organisations, and military regiments in the UK and beyond.
The post also explained Anne's sporting talents, writing, 'Princess Anne was the first member of the British Royal Family to compete in an Olympic Games, when she participated as a member of the British Equestrian team at the 1976 Montreal Games.'
Elsewhere in the post, Anne was seen carrying out charity work, with the fact, 'The Princess Royal was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 by President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia.
'She was nominated for her work as President of Save the Children across two decades.'
The next fact read, 'In 1994, The Queen appointed The Princess Royal to the Order of the Garter. However, The Princess Royal requested to be installed as Royal Knight of the Order and not a lady.'
The impressive list didn't stop there, with the post also adding that Anne was the first member of the Royal Family to appear as a contestant on a television quiz show when she competed on the BBC panel game, A Question of Sport.
Anne's diligent nature was also mentioned in the fact list, explaining that she's completed a total of 562 overseas visits and has visited every continent, making it unsurprising that she's often dubbed the hardest working in her family.
The following fact said, 'Her Royal Highness has been Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union since June 1986, regularly attending matches and visiting team training sessions.'
In another image, Anne was seen stepping out of a motor alongside the text, 'The Princess Royal is the first member of the Royal Family to have a HGV license. Her Royal Highness has also driven a double-decker London bus and a police car.'
'Her Royal Highness is Colonel-in-Chief of more than 20 British and Commonwealth regiments,' the next fact read.
The post concluded with an image of Anne in her famous shades, writing, 'The Princess Royal is often seen sporting Team GB sunglasses, including at high-profile events such as the London 2012 Olympics and Royal Ascot in 2021.
It comes after Princess Anne met with Irish President Michael D Higgins in the Irish capital, as she travelled to Dublin to a mark milestone event at 150th Dublin Horse Show.
The Princess Royal, 74, began the day with a formal welcome at Áras an Uachtaráin, where she was received by President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina in what is expected to be one of his final engagements with a senior royal, as he nears the end of his second and final term in office.
The meeting marked a symbolic moment in UK-Ireland relations, paying tribute to President Higgins' long-standing service to Irish public life and the enduring ties between the two nations.
Princess Anne wore a stylish green blazer paired with an emerald skirt, a subtle nod to Ireland, the Emerald Isle.
She completed her sophisticated look with a black leather handbag, heels and matching gloves for the occasion.
Later in the day, all eyes turned to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), where Princess Anne attended the official opening of the 150th Dublin Horse Show - a major highlight on the Irish social and sporting calendar.
A passionate equestrian herself, Princess Anne toured a special exhibition celebrating the show's rich history and meet representatives from Festina Lente, a Bray-based charity specialising in equine-assisted therapy, as well as the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland.
Her Royal Highness, who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games in the equestrian three-day event, also presented rosettes to the winners of the hotly contested Small Hunters (Class 20) competition.
British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnston, praised the visit, saying: 'The Princess Royal's visit underscores the deep and enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the significance of the 150th holding of the RDS Dublin Horse Show.
'Her Royal Highness has visited Ireland on many occasions, including as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union during Six Nations games here.
'Her visit this week reflects her lifelong interest in equestrianism and charitable work.'
The Princess Royal's appearance in Dublin comes as part of a busy summer of royal engagements, and once again highlights her unwavering dedication to public service.
Anne previously visited the Aras in February 2004 during engagements, where she was greeted by then-Irish president Mary McAleese.
The princess was accompanied by the British ambassador to Ireland at the time, Stewart Eldon.
Members of the royal family have visited the president's residence on several occasions, including the historic trip by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2011.
She was the first monarch to visit the Republic, where she signed a guest book at the Aras and planted an English oak tree at the Peace Bell.
Her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, made solo visits to Aras an Uachtarain in November 1998 and again in April 2006.
During their three-day visit to the Republic in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales – then titled the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – had a tea party with Mr Higgins and his wife at the Aras and met one of the president's dogs, Brod.
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