Princess Anne wears Queen Elizabeth II's purple plaid coat for engagement in Nottingham amid turbulent time for family following King Charles' cancer diagnosis

Princess Anne paid a touching tribute to her mother yesterday as she wore Queen Elizabeth II's purple checked coat as she stepped out in Nottingham.

The Princess Royal, 73, looked sophisticated as she performed a full day of royal engagements as she donned the chic coat previously worn by the late monarch.

The Queen – who died in September 2022 – wore the purple coat as she disembarked the Hebridean Princess after a cruise with the royal family in 2010.

Anne paired the statement coat with a matching skirt and completed the ensemble with Fairfax and Favor black suede boots £413.

It was a poignant decision by Anne to keep her late mother close, amid a turbulent time for the royal family following King Charles' cancer diagnosis.

Princess Anne visited the Nottingham West Primary Care Network at Eastwood Primary Care Center yesterday afternoon as part of her role as Patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

The network aims to meet the high demand from patients in care homes as they work to create the most effective wrap-around support possible for their local population.

Excited residents peeked out of their windows and grinned as the royal family chatted downstairs – leaving with a huge bouquet of flowers in hand.

Earlier in the day, Anne visited a health center in Nottingham after an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, just the day after the king's shock diagnosis.

But the Royal did not respond to questions from the crowd as she got into her car and asked about her brother's condition.

The Princess Royal was among the closest relatives personally informed by King Charles of his diagnosis, which he had known about since early last week.

She is one of a number of senior members of the family who are expected to increase the number of assignments they take on as the monarch steps back to focus on his health, following instructions from doctors.

Shortly before, she also visited GH Hurt & Son – a luxury fabric manufacturer known for their knitted shawls and lace scarves.

The established company had been operating in the city since 1912 and had her grinning for the cameras as she was given a tour of the historic site.

The Queen – who died in September 2022 – also donned the purple coat when she disembarked the Hebridean Princess after a cruise with the royal family in 2010

The Princess Royal, 73, looked sophisticated as she performed a full day of royal engagements as she donned the chic coat previously worn by the late monarch

Anne paired the statement coat with a matching skirt and completed the ensemble with Fairfax and Favor black suede boots £413

But Princess Anne's day wasn't over yet: she arrived at the Science Museum to present an award during her fourth engagement of the day.

She wore a blue and white floral dress with bright green polka dots and sheltered from the rain under parasols as she walked to the building in central London.

The Princess Royal also faces a busy day tomorrow, where she will have three engagements in Berkshire, London and Oxfordshire.

She will start the day with a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission – of which she chairs – in Maidenhead, before visiting Community Rehabilitative Services in East London.

Princess Anne will end the day with a visit to an ammunition and search training regiment at St George's Barracks in Bicester.

Earlier today, the Princess Royal led an investiture ceremony 140 miles across the country at Windsor Castle.

She presented awards to conductor Ivor Bolton, tenor Nicky Spence, rugby union referee Sara Cox and wheelchair rugby league player James Simpson, among others. Later in the day she will travel to the Midlands for a royal visit.

The King (pictured with Camilla after leaving the London Clinic on January 29) after starting outpatient cancer treatment

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, another area of ​​concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests identified a form of cancer'

In a statement last night, Buckingham Palace said doctors had noticed a separate problem that was “concerning” for the king during surgery on a benign enlarged prostate, and that it has since been confirmed to be cancer.

It comes as the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, continues to recover from a planned abdominal surgery, while Sarah Ferguson is also battling cancer for the second time after recently being diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

Before the news was confirmed on Monday, Princess Anne put on a brave face as she attended the dedication of a new St John Ambulance Community Unit in Devizes, Wiltshire.

It is not unusual for the Princess Royal to undertake important royal duties such as investitures; she previously performed such ceremonies on January 17, 24 and 31.

The Mail's Robert Hardman described the Princess Royal as “essential” in times of need for the royal family, adding that she is “the backbone of the entire institution.”