Princess Anne is widely known as the hardest working royal, but she also proved she has nerves of steel during a kidnapping attempt.

On the evening of March 20, 1974, Anne and her then husband, Mark Phillipswere on their way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity event when a Ford Escort overtook their car and forced them to a halt.

The escort driver, Ian Balljumped out of the vehicle and started shooting a gun. James BeatonAnne’s personal police officer at the time, was shot three times during the altercation.

“It went boom and he shot me in the chest,” Beaton recalled in a March 2024 statement. the BBC. “I tried to shoot back at him with my gun. I missed the first shot and then the gun jammed.”

Beaton was also shot in the hand and abdomen while trying to protect the princess.

“I still have a piece of bullet in my hand,” the now retired inspector told the BBC.

When Ball, who also shot Anne’s driver, Alex CallenderAnd Brian McConnellone nearby Daily email journalist who tried to intervene and order the princess to leave the vehicle, Anne famously replied: “[Not] damn probably.”

According to Smithsonian MagazineAnne later told police she had “a very annoying conversation” with her attempted kidnapper.

“I kept saying I didn’t want to get out of the car, and I didn’t intend to get out of the car,” she reportedly explained to police.

Cop Michael Hills, who was patrolling in the area at the time of the attack, was the first on the scene. Ball shot him in the stomach, but Hills still managed to call for reinforcements before collapsing.

Former boxer Ron Russel was also in the area at the time and witnessed Hill being shot.

“I stopped and heard a lot of banging and banging, which I thought was the general commotion. But then Ball shot a police officer, and I thought, ‘That’s a liberty, he needs to be sorted,'” Russell told police. Eastern Daily Press in 2006.

Russell said he then hit Ball once in the back of the head and once “fairly” on the chin.

“He went downstairs and there were police everywhere,” he remembers.

Ball was subsequently arrested. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder and kidnapping and was sentenced to life in a mental health institution. He is currently being held at Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric hospital.

After the attempted kidnapping, police found two pairs of handcuffs and a ransom note addressed to Queen Elizabeth II in Ball’s rental car. According to The guardBall’s plan was to hold Anne to ransom of £3 million and give the money to the National Health Service for the treatment of mental patients.

During a 1980 appearance on the British talk show Parkinson’sAnne recalled being “scrupulously polite” to Ball until he tore her dress.

“I thought it was stupid to be too rude at that moment,” she explained. “The back of my dress tore and that was his most dangerous moment. At that moment I lost my lap.”

Beaton, Hills, Callendar and McConnell were all hospitalized after the ordeal and all recovered from their wounds. For Beaton’s defense of Anne, the Queen awarded him the George Cross, which recognizes acts of extreme courage performed by civilians and military personnel when not in the presence of an enemy.

Hills and Russell received the George Medal, while Callender and McConnell received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

Anne went to visit Beaton in hospital shortly after the attack.

“When Princess Anne came to see me at the hospital, it was quite funny because the staff said, ‘Come on, you have to wear something.’ Cover your chest and all the wounds and stuff,” Beaton told the BBC in March 2024. “I said, ‘Oh, stop it.’ We just said, you know, ‘[We’re] I’m glad we’re all still alive and kicking, so to speak.’”

Princess Anne is known for recycling her favorite clothes, whether they are dresses, handbags or jackets.

The royal, 73, demonstrated her knack for repurposing on Friday when she visited the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel (QE2) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, wearing an aquamarine dress she has owned for 46 years.

Anne’s dress debuted during President Khama of Botswana’s state visit to London in 1978, when she was 26 years old, and features a statement collar, checked bodice and elegant pleated skirt.

She paired her dress with a single-breasted blazer in a matching shade, and took the look to the next level with a cream clutch and bow-embellished pumps, which she wore to Royal Ascot in 2023.

Often referred to as the British royal family’s ‘hardest working royal’, Anne is visiting the UAE as president of The Mission to Seafarers.

It marks the second tour of the year for Princess Anne, who traveled to Sri Lanka with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, 69, in January.

The timeless dress for the mother of two is made in a striking aquamarine shade and has a striking collar, a checked bodice and an elegant midi length.

The Princess Royal first wore the garment during President Khama of Botswana’s state visit to London in 1978, when she was 26 years old.

Since then, Anne has donned the dress a number of times, including Royal Ascot in 2013, and the dress remains in pristine condition.

For her visit into the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel DubaiAnne added a delicate gold chain and pearl earrings.

The royal family’s outfit choice also reflects her late mother, after whom the hotel is named.

Anne’s dress was made in the same shade that Queen Elizabeth II wore when she launched the ship in Glasgow in September 1967, creating a poignant bond between mother and daughter.

Anne had an understated make-up look, with berry lipstick, and had her hair up in her signature style.

Princess Anne is usually referred to as the hardest working royal and has taken on the most assignments in 2023.

Last week she paid tribute to ‘extraordinary’ Rob Burrow at a Rugby League reception honoring the community for their work to raise money for motor neurone disease.

The Princess Royal, who looked sophisticated in a red coat, appeared in good spirits as she took to the stage and chatted to Rob, 41, and his wife Lindsey at the event at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

Anne praised the “most extraordinary example of Rob Burrow himself and Kevin Sinfield in raising awareness of a truly devastating diagnosis.”

The former Leeds Rhinos player was diagnosed with MND in 2019, two years after retiring from the sport, and was given just two years to live.

Since then, he has not only existed, but remained alive defiantly and triumphantly, intent on raising money and awareness for the brutal disease that has left him completely paralyzed.

In honor of his friend, Kevin has in turn undertaken a series of endurance challenges, raising £13 million for MND charities.

First he ran seven marathons – more than 300 kilometers – in seven days. Then in 2021 he ran 100 miles in just 24 hours.

In 2022, he ran seven ultramarathons in seven days, covering as much as 60 kilometers per day for a week.

Princess Anne’s warning not to slim the Royal Family down further was ‘right’ and with the ‘big three’ royals now off work the ‘desertion’ of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has put The Firm ‘in trouble’, royal experts told MailOnline today.

The Princess of Wales is in hospital after an abdominal operation, Prince William has taken time off to care for his family and King Charles has revealed he needs a procedure on his enlarged prostate next week.

Experts have pointed to Princess Anne’s words from last May, where she told a Canadian broadcaster: ‘I think that “slimmed down” was said in a day when there were a few more people to make that seem like a justifiable comment’, adding: ‘It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing.’

Royal biographer Phil Dampier has said that the absence of Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew means ‘the slimmed down monarchy looks a bit too slim’. 

He said that it ‘must raise the question of whether some minor royal jobs could be carried out by others like Princess Beatrice or Eugenie’. There have also been calls for Zara and Mike Tindall to do more.

But royal expert and investigative journalist Tom Bower says despite Kate and Charles’ health problems, the King must stay the course and not reverse the trend by relying on minor royals such as the Duke of York’s children.

Mr Dampier said: ‘Princess Anne said in an interview last year that she thought the monarchy was already slimmed down enough and she’s been proved right.

‘The events of this week also put into sharp focus how much the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to leave has rocked the monarchy when originally they promised so much.

‘If Harry and Meghan hadn’t left for California and Prince Andrew hadn’t ruined his life by getting involved with sleaze, there wouldn’t be a problem. But without them the Firm is in trouble when the unexpected happens’.

He added: ‘You do wonder if in quiet moments Harry feels some pangs of guilt for deserting his family and the institution, but so far he has not shown any public signs of regret.

‘With Kate in hospital being looked after by William and the King going in next week, we are down to The Queen, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as full time working royals. Two of them are over seventy and the ancient institution looks painfully thin on the ground’.

Tom Bower also believes the health problems at the top of the Royal Family shines a spotlight on Harry and Meghan, but says it will soon be business as usual.

He said: ‘Our hearts go out to the King and Princess of Wales. Their absence from our daily lives will make us appreciate them and the monarchy even more. However, this is not the moment to reverse the trend to slim down the monarchy.

‘Any suggestion that Beatrice and Eugenie should step in should be firmly quashed. Neither has done anything to deserve our respect. Harry had a marvellous opportunity to serve his country but disloyally not only deserted us but betrayed his countrymen and his family.

‘In a few weeks it will be back to “business as usual” and we will appreciate all the more how lucky we are to have the Royal Family to represent the best of British values’.

The Princess of Wales has spent a second night in hospital after major abdominal surgery as William, her parents and siblings cleared their diaries to support her recovery and care for George, Charlotte and Louis.

Kate is said to be ‘doing well’ as she recovers following the procedure at the London Clinic in Marylebone revealed on the same day King Charles announced he was taking a short break for treatment for an enlarged prostate.

With Prince William also taking leave to care for his wife and children, the so-called ‘big three’ royals will be away from duties over the coming weeks with experts saying that with Harry and Meghan in the US, and Andrew in the cold, there is only Princess Anne and her brother Prince Edward to call on.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband will combine being by his wife’s and children’s side throughout.

Any royal tours William and Kate had in the diary for the coming months will also no longer take place amid speculation they would visit Italy together in March. 

Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton and sibling Pippa Matthews and James Middleton are already rallying round and help support her recovery at her home in Windsor, which is close to their own homes.

The Royal Family’s ‘big three’ are out of action because Buckingham Palace also revealed yesterday that  King Charles III will attend hospital next week to be treated with a ‘corrective procedure’ for an enlarged prostate.

The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace coming first at 2pm then Buckingham Palace followed at 3.30pm.

She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports. 

The Prince will also postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also do no official duties during the immediate period after Kate’s return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

It is unclear what the exact nature of the surgery, with The Palace unwilling to reveal any details in respect of Kate’s ‘medical privacy’. However it did not rule out the prospect that she may choose to speak publicly about it herself in the future.

Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams told The Sun: ‘This might be something that has been bothering her for her whole life which she has not got round to resolving, or an issue that has come to light more recently.

‘Two weeks in hospital is longer than we would normally expect, but she doesn’t have a normal life. She’s the future queen so the doctors will be erring on the side of caution.

‘We all hope it is something minor and the surgery is straightforward, but precaution is wise. With anything medical you can never be completely certain how things will go.

‘The most important thing is that she gets enough recovery time and it’s not too stressful for her and her family.’

Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Express: ‘For abdominal surgery, most people stay in the hospital for four to seven days. After laparoscopic surgery [a type of keyhole surgery], this is reduced to two to four days.

‘It very much depends on what exactly has been done. If a patient needs to go to ITU, it’s likely their hospital stay would be considerably longer.

‘It can take two months or more for the patient to feel comfortable and be able to move around normally afterwards.’

Neither William nor Kate will travel internationally over the coming months.

William and Kate were said to have been planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but this is now in doubt. Another scheduled foreign military engagement could be affected. 

Kate will almost certainly be forced to miss a number of high-profile events she might otherwise been expected to attend. 

She and William have regularly turned up for the Baftas, the biggest night in British cinema, held in central London this month, but this would be too soon for the recovering princess. 

She is also likely to miss out on a long-standing royal tradition in March – handing out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in her role as the regiment’s honorary colonel. 

The annual Commonwealth Day Service, also held in March, is likely to have to go ahead without her. The princess, patron of English rugby, is also unlikely to be well enough to attend the Guinness Six Nations, which kicks off next month. 

The Princess marked her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy’s official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the King’s coronation.

Kate usually enjoys good health but was previously admitted to hospital while pregnant after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum – severe morning sickness.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery.

‘The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

‘The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.

‘Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.

‘The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. 

‘She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.’

Royal expert Phil Dampier said: ‘Wishing the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. We don’t know the details but clearly this was serious as she will be in hospital for a fortnight and needs up to three months to recover.’

And the Queen’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: ‘I am sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.’

She may have access to top international designers.

But Zara Tindall showed her love for some affordable Australian labels when she went shopping on the Gold Coast this week.

Princess Anne’s 42-year-old daughter mingled with other shoppers on Monday as she visited several popular clothing stores including Seed, Country Road, RM Williams, Decjuba and Sportsgirl.

Zara dressed for the summer weather in a pink T-shirt, jeans and Birkenstock single-strap sandals, which showed off her fresh, blue-dyed pedicure.

She wore sunglasses and a $770 solid brown Aspinal of London crossbody bag.

Her attack appeared to be a success, as she left the mall carrying several labeled bags of clothing.

She was later seen reading a menu at a local cafe.

Zara and her husband Mike, 45, are frequent visitors to the Australian coast and were last in the country late last year.

The pair spent Christmas in Britain before returning Down Under for the Magic Millions.

Zara and Mike are not working royals and do not take money from the Sovereign Grant to fund their lifestyle through various brand deals.

In 2012, Zara was announced as the first Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador.

She now travels to Surfers Paradise in Queensland every year for the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, seven days of auctions culminating in a major race meeting where all the contenders are horses bought at previous Magic Millions auctions.

Brand experts say Zara could make ‘millions’ from the deal.

During their trip to Australia last year, they were spotted shopping in luxury boutiques and taking part in wine tours.

The couple speaks lovingly about the country where their love story began.

They met in a Sydney bar in 2003, while Mike was ‘drowning his sorrows’ after being left out of England’s World Cup squad and Zara was on a gap year.

The couple has been married since 2011 and has three children: Mia Grace Tindall, Lucas Tindall and Lena Elizabeth Tindall.

During a trip Down Under in 2020, they even rang in the New Year in Sydney with an A-list audience including Rebel Wilson.

Last year, Zara and Mike were the toast of the town when they spent time in Adelaide, South Australia, and attended the Adelaide 500 car racing event.

The British equestrian enjoyed a VIP shopping experience at an exclusive boutique in the city and left with a handful of sartorial acquisitions.

She booked a session at designer clothing boutique Sally Phillips, which is by appointment only.

Mike recently launched his own line of Budgy Smugglers after wearing the revealing swimwear on the UK version of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Its range comes with cheeky slogans including ‘nibble my nuts’ and ‘Vanilla Mike’, with all proceeds donated to charity.

They sell for $63 (£35) per pair with profits going directly to Cure Parkinson’s to support their research into a cure for the disease.

The rugby royal saw his wealth rise to almost £1 million (AUD$1.8 million) after his appearance on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

Figures from his company Kimble Trading Limited show that the company’s reserves have more than doubled in the time since the stock exchange has lasted.

The figures cover the 12 months to the end of March this year and cover the time of his appearance on the ITV show last year.

The return is the best performance for the company in years and follows his successful stint on the ITV celebrity show, where he finished fourth and impressed fans with his down-to-earth character and hilarious royal anecdotes.

Mike is praised for his down-to-earth character and calmness, but also for his stories about the royal family.

In one, he recalled ripping his pants while performing a “slut drop” dance move for the queen to reveal his underpants and saying, “nibble my nuts.”

He said the queen took one look and said, “I’d rather not.”

In another, he revealed that he and Zara bonded over an alcohol-fueled lunch on their first real date.

He said: ‘It ended up being quite drunk. Then we discovered that we both enjoy being spanked. It was a good start.’

She is known as the most no-nonsense member of the royal family.

So Princess Anne insisted on traveling to SRI Lanka on a scheduled service this week for a whirlwind three-day official visit – and even carried her own suitcases.

The King’s 73-year-old sister is on the island on behalf of the British government to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which includes a range of public engagements.

Sri Lankan Airlines posted photos on social media of her boarding their plane in London, without make-up and carrying two heavy overnight bags, accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

And despite a red carpet and a colorful official welcome on the other side of Colombo, she declined every offer of help and happily carried three bags down the stairs of the plane.

However, she had swapped her camel-coloured casual wool shawl for a smart blazer and her signature sporty sunglasses – and seemed delighted by the singers and dancers who greeted her with baskets of flowers.

Andrew Patrick, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, was among the dignitaries who formally welcomed the Princess, saying afterwards: ‘This visit is the best possible way to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.’

“That’s the goal, to show her as much of the country, as much of the diversity as we can, and we think this is the first visit by a member of the royal family to Jaffna, certainly in many, many years, so that will be historic.’

Upon her arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, the Princess Royal signed the Golden Book for VIP visitors.

In the coming days, she will undertake engagements in Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna to meet with local communities and faith groups and celebrate relations between the two countries.

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, was a British colony that gained independence in 1948.

On the first day of her visit, Anne, who shows no signs of slowing down despite turning 74 this year, was welcomed by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister before immediately leaving for the MAS Active factory, one of the largest clothing and textile companies in the world. South East Asia and an important partner for many UK businesses.

The Princess, chair of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, met staff and toured the facilities.

She then visited the Sri Lankan headquarters of Save The Children – a charity of which she is also a patron and with which she has a long association – to mark the 50th anniversary of her work in the country.

As part of the charity celebrations, Her Royal Highness took part in the tradition of lighting a ceremonial oil lamp symbolizing hope and prosperity – the very lamp she had lit on her previous visit almost 30 years ago.

The Princess also received a gift box containing artwork from some of the many thousands of young people Save the Children has supported through programs tackling the impact of poverty, violence, natural disasters and the climate crisis.

There was barely time to catch her breath before she headed to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, where Save The Children pioneered a social emotional learning program known as Tilli, which uses games and storytelling to help parents and teachers with issues around trust . , consent, bodies and boundaries.

The innovative program helps young people from across the country, many of whom suffer from chronic illnesses, express their feelings and build resilience through games and play.

Princess Anne also spoke to a team of pediatric consultants and child protection experts about the charity’s support for children in hospital, which began in response to the double blow of the Covid-19 pandemic and a crippling economic crisis that has devastated many Sri Lankan families tipped. in poverty.

Her Royal Highness became President of Save the Children UK in 1970, before transitioning to the role of Patron in 2017. She last visited the charity’s work in Sri Lanka in 1995.

During this leg of the royal tour, Her Royal Highness was photographed by the son of the photographer who captured her previous visit.

Julian Chellappah, Country Director of Save the Children Sri Lanka, said: “As Save the Children celebrates the 50th anniversary of its operations in Sri Lanka, we could not be more pleased that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has chosen to return here turn to be the first to witness – hand in our life-changing work – and see something of the impact we have had over the past 50 years.

Her presence is vital in raising awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable children and their families here.”

Her day will end with a meeting with the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The princess’s visit is the royal family’s first foreign tour in 2024 and reinforces its reputation as a hard-working royal.

We see relatively little of him, but Peter Phillips has the honor of being the eldest of the late Queen Elizabeth’s eight grandchildren.

Peter, who turns 46 today, is the son of Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and older brother of Zara, 42.

Unlike their cousins, neither Peter nor Zara have a title – which would be in line with Princess Anne’s wish that her children would have had as normal a life as possible.

While Zara has followed their parents in making a name for themselves as a leading equestrian, Peter has delved into a series of business ventures – not without the occasional controversy.

Peter was fifth in the order of succession at birth, but has steadily moved up as Prince Edward and Prince Andrew have had families of their own.

Yet the 46-year-old is a central figure in the Windsor family and played a major role in the funerals of both his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

He walked through the streets of London behind Her Majesty’s coffin in September with his cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Peter’s younger sister Zara Phillips Tindall arrived in May 1981. He also has two half-sisters, Stephanie Phillips and Felicity Tonkin, Mark Phillips’ other children.

Both Peter and Zara spent a lot of time growing up with their cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Peter attended Port Regis Prep School in Shaftesbury before later going to Gordonstoun in Scotland.

It was this school that his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his uncles King Charles III, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward attended.

After school, Peter spent time traveling in Sydney and working for former motorcycle racer Jackie Stewart, who was a friend of Princess Anne and part of the Queen’s inner circle, as part of the F1 racing team.

Peter later studied sports science and played varsity rugby at the University of Exeter.

He got a job in hospitality management at Jaguar Land Rover, before moving to the Williams racing team as a sponsorship account manager.

Peter met his future wife, Canadian-born Autumn Kelly, at the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix while Peter was working for Williams F1.

He left racing in September 2005 for a job as a manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Two years later, in July 2007, Peter and Autumn announced their engagement and were married in May 2008 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

In December 2010, Autumn gave birth to the Queen’s first great-grandchild, Savannah, followed in March 2012 by the couple’s second daughter, Isla.

After 14 years together, the couple confirmed the news that they had split in February 2020. Their divorce was finalized 16 months later in June 2021.

Their statement read as follows: ‘After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn mutually agreed to separate. They had come to the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and their continued friendship.

‘Both families were of course saddened by the announcement, but fully supported Peter and Autumn in their joint decision to raise their children together. Both Peter and Autumn will remain in Gloucestershire to raise their two children, where they have lived for a number of years.”

He has since found love again with Lindsay Wallace, an old school friend from his £40,000-a-year Gordonstoun days.

The pair were first photographed together when Lindsay joined Peter at August Brooksbank and Lucas Tindall’s double royal christening in November 2021.

The seriousness of their relationship became clear when Ms Wallace joined her royal pal at three separate Platinum Jubilee events last year: the Epsom Derby, the Platinum Party and the Platinum Pageant.

And most recently the pair were pictured laughing together at the Coronation concert in May as they watched from the royal box in the grounds of the Windsor Estate.

Peter is not a ‘working royal’ and does not receive state support. He recently returned to F1 as head of partner acquisition for sports and entertainment rights agency CSM Sport & Entertainment.

But in 2020, Peter had turned to other means of raising money, using his royal status to sell Jersey-produced milk in China.

In a television advertisement for Bright Dairies, shown on the country’s Dragon TV, Peter was seen being brought a glass of milk by a butler.

“This is what I drink,” he says to the tagline: “British Royal Family Member, Peter Phillips.”

The episode raised eyebrows.

Princess Anne’s son was paid £750,000 for a two-year ‘commercial services contract’ to organize the Queen’s 90th birthday street party.

Those wanting to attend the picnic lunch on the Mall to celebrate the Queen’s birthday had to pay £150 per head, a price tag her grandson Peter defended.

Ever since James Haskell was spotted whispering into a blonde women’s ear outside Chiltern Firehouse, the marital woes of the former England rugby star and his wife Chloe Madeley have been the talk of the town.

While the status of their relationship is unclear, salvation for the showbiz couple could lie in an unlikely royal ally, Zara Tindall, who has remained close with both of the pair.

James, 38, was spotted whispering into the ear of blonde beauty Martine Bridge outside the exclusive London club earlier this month.

He later claimed it was just a friendly interaction, but, in the weeks since both James and Chloe have been spotted multiple times without their wedding rings.

James seemed to party the blues away by heading to Paris to watch England in the Rugby World Cup. While Chloe stayed at home with their 14-month old daughter Bodhi.

Alongside James in Paris was his royal pal and long-term family friend Zara, who is perhaps the best placed person to bring the quarrelling couple back together. 

The daughter of Princess Anne has been friends with both Chloe and James for years, with her husband Mike co-hosting a podcast with his former England teammate James.

Both James and Chloe have said they’ve gone to the Tindalls for marriage and parenting advice in the past, with Chloe even revealing Zara pitches in.

Speaking in February, Chloe said her ‘brilliant’ friend Zara had offered to change her daughter’s dirty nappies.  

Chloe told OK! Magazine how Zara, 41, and Mike Tindall, 44, were among the first friends to meet their daughter at their London home shortly after her arrival.

Describing how the Queen’s granddaughter bonded with the little one, Chloe said Zara ‘didn’t let go of [Bodhi] all day.’

She said: ‘She was basically Zara’s baby for the day, which was nice for me, because I could sit down with some of our friends and have a cup of tea and a catch-up.’

During their visit, Chloe said Zara even offered to change Bodhi’s nappy to give the new mother a ‘break’.

What’s more, Chloe also praised Zara’s husband Mike. 

She labelled him an ‘incredible dad’ and said he has been giving James ‘lots of tips’ about parenting and looking after a newborn.

Quoting Mike’s most important piece of advice, Chloe added: ‘Namely, enjoy this period and don’t over-busy yourself, stop and enjoy it, and I appreciate that advice.’

Former rugby players Mike and James co-host their hugely successful podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby and two couples have become close friends.

When she was expecting Bodhi, Chloe revealed that mother-of-three Zara had also offered some advice about becoming a parent.

Chloe told OK! magazine: ‘Zara’s given me some really good advice and a sack of muslins.’

‘I asked Zara and many people about bottle and breastfeeding, and they’ve all said, ‘You just won’t know until you try’.’

Meanwhile, James praised Mike and Zara’s ‘brilliant’ parenting and said he’d like their baby to grow up like ‘cheeky tomboy’ Mia.

‘I get on really well with Mia,’ he said. ‘I kind of want our daughter to be like her. Cheeky, a bit of a tomboy and girly when she needs to be. I’ll take any advice from them.’  

And despite her friendship with Chloe, Zara has also stayed close to James amid the rumoured tension.

Zara was with James when he stripped off and swung his shirt above his head during England’s quarter-final game against Fiji.

In another video, James was joined by Zara as he danced and sang along to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline in the stands.

The group were in jubilant spirits after England’s 30-24 victory and Zara could be seen wrapping her arm around James as they celebrated the win.

Meanwhile, his wife Chloe Madeley, 36, spent the weekend at home with their 14-month-old daughter Bodhi as she documented their time with sweet snaps on her own Instagram page.

James has previously shared how Chloe is close with Zara.

‘Me and Mike are very close, and Zara and Chloe are too,’ the star told OK!

‘We’ve never been on a double date. We hang out lots together, but we’ve never double dated.’

Chloe previously admitted she had ‘trust issues’ within their relationship.

The fitness fanatic opened up about the difficulties which she and her husband had endured in 2020, saying the pair went through ‘trust issues and power struggles’ with the goal being to ‘eventually reach an understanding.’

The mother-of-one also noted that without ‘an accepted degree of push-pull’ within a relationship, ‘no couple can go the distance.’ 

The following night, Chloe, who has been married to James since 2018, ditched her wedding ring as she enjoyed a girls’ night out with pals including celebrity make-up artist Lou Teasdale.

Hitting back at any suggestions of flirting or impropriety, James’s spokesman told The Sun : ‘The woman pictured is a friend of James’s group who he just met that night. They were simply having a conversation outside so there is nothing to this.’

MailOnline have contacted James’s representatives for further comment.

Ever since it has seemed business as usual for the couple, who both shared insights into their weekends with their followers on their respective Instagram pages.

As well as his shirtless antics, James also reposted clips as he celebrated with friends at the game by throwing one of them up into the air.

He also shared a snap with a fan, who referenced James’ recent controversy, by writing: ‘And no I’m not any mystery blonde.’

James appeared to be great entertainment in the stands, as he waved and cheered for fans who were loving the performance, with one writing: ‘James Haskell being his shy and retiring self’.

Meanwhile, Chloe filled her feed with adorable snaps of Bodhi, including one where the little girl was wrapped up in a blanket during a lunch outing. She captioned it: ‘Sundays with my [world] [heart]’.

She also posted a video of her daughter enjoying a Disney film in their living room. 

On Friday, Chloe started her night at Treehouse Hotel bar with six friends before moving to Soho House and later heading home just before 3am on Saturday.

She looked sensational as she put on a leggy display in a pair of denim hot pants and a fitted black bodysuit.

She completed her look with some thigh-high heeled boots and carried a black bag with her.

James later posted a message about a ‘lonely life’ after Chloe ditched her wedding ring for her night out.

He took to Instagram on Sunday morning and wrote: ‘Live a lonely life!’ alongside a video from his DJ set while playing a remix of Ace of Base’s song All That She Wants.

The vocal ‘she lives a lonely life’ could be heard on loop.

James and Chloe hit the headlines this week when the first episode of their reality show Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair hit screens.

Last week, Chloe opened up about ‘biggest row ever’ with James as she revealed that the fall-out between the pair was over X-rated snaps of  women.

In a new interview, she explained how she was upset when James was away in Ibiza and took to Instagram where he ‘posted photos of other girls’ a***s’.

The influencer accepted that being surrounded by bikini clad women was part of his career. Now the former rugby player has become a DJ, but didn’t want it splashed over social media. 

The argument features in the new ITVBe reality show. Talking about their fallout, Chloe told The Sun: ‘One of the biggest row we’ve ever had was on camera. It happened when he was in Ibiza and posted photos (on Instagram) of other girls’ a***s. 

‘My argument was, ”I don’t mind that that is your job but I don’t want you putting it on social media when everyone knows I’m your wife”,’ explained Chloe.

Over the summer, Chloe opened up about the challenges in her and James’s relationship after the two became parents in August 2022. 

The star has revealed there were moments when she wondered, ‘are we ever going to come out the other side of this?’ as they battled with sleepless nights and extreme tiredness. 

Discussing her marriage with Bella magazine, Chloe admitted she feels she has managed to save her marriage and the couple are now getting back on track.

‘We’re starting to spend more time together and enjoy it as opposed to getting into a competition about who’s more tired and say, ‘who’s done the bottles?”’

Their daughter Bodhi was born last August and the star has been very open about her motherhood journey. 

The daughter of TV legends Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan confessed that becoming a mother has taught her so much about herself.

She said: ‘I’ve learned that I am a hell of a lot more capable than I thought.’

The Princess Royal receives members of the Royal Family ahead of this weekend’s Trooping the Color.

Princess Anne, 72, who recently received the title of Senior Colonel, will host a dinner for Household Division Colonels on the eve of the King’s official birthday parade in London.

The guests will include several members of the Royal Family, including Queen Camilla, who was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards last December, and the Prince of Wales, who took over from his father as Colonel of the Welsh Guards after the accession of King Charles to the throne.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales, who has taken over as colonel of the Irish Guards from her husband, is also expected to attend, Hello! reported.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent will also be in attendance for their respective appointments as Royal Honorary Colonel, 1st Battalion London Guards and Colonel of the Scots Guards.

It comes because the king was joined today by his sister, Princess Anne, on a rare joint engagement at Buckingham Palace.

The siblings were together when he presented the new Sovereign’s Standard to the Blues and Royals squadron (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) of the Household Cavalry, of which Anne is a colonel.

Charles spoke of his “great pride” in the connection between the Blues and Royals and the monarch, as the country continues to face “a range of threats” and “difficult times”.

A little after 2:00 p.m., the King, dressed in Field Marshal’s uniform with Field Marshal’s baton, and Anne, dressed in her Blues and Royals Colonel’s uniform which she also wore at last month’s coronation, arrived a little after 2:00 p.m. for a fanfare of trumpets. soldiers and 27 horses formed on the Quadrangle for the presentation of the new standard.

The new standard, made of silk damask with gold embroidery bearing the royal arms and battle honours, was then consecrated by the Chaplain General Padre Tom Sander and Father Ian Rogers, before being presented by the King, who briefly touched the default .

Charles then presented the standard to Major Peter Ireland, the squadron commander of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Charles, 74, then gave a short speech from the dais, recalling the squadron’s long ties to the monarch, and praising the unique dual operational and ceremonial role of its soldiers.

He said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of great pride to be here with you today to present your new standard, which in itself represents that personal bond between The Blues and Royals and the Sovereign that has existed since before the Restoration. in 1661.

“Your standard, once the physical gathering point for your ancestors, is the golden thread that connects you to your glorious past.

“The battle honors on it, together with your uniforms and medals so visible in your ceremonial role, are a further demonstration of your proven record as battle-hardened mounted and dismounted soldiers with recent operational experience.

‘Indeed, I know that some of you are currently serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus. Such history pays homage to your dual role, which is, of course, the fundamental principle that makes state ceremonial and public duties so special and believable to a deeply grateful nation.

“In these difficult times for our country, where we continue to face a range of threats in many different forms, both nationally and internationally, it is all the more important to maintain such standards of excellence and achievement.

“As your Colonel-in-Chief, I know that your Colonel, the Princess Royal, joins me in thanking you all for your unwavering dedication and service, as well as your families for their immense and unwavering support, some of whom I am very pleased to see can join us today.

“I commend this standard as a source of pride and inspiration to all of you – wherever you are – in the service of your country.”

The standard was then given to the mounted troop of the Sovereign’s Escort, who marched past Charles and Anne to give a second royal salute.

After the brief ceremony, Charles and Anne spent several minutes meeting with some of the 75 guests present in the quadrangle, including past and present members of the Household Cavalry and friends and family of those on parade.

Also among the guests is Brigadier General Andrew Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla’s ex-husband, a former commander of the Household Cavalry.

Service usually takes place every decade and the squadron was last awarded their Standard by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2014.

The handmade Blues and Royals stand is made by the Wyedean family business in Haworth, West Yorkshire.

The newly consecrated banner will be displayed on Saturday at the King’s first birthday parade, Trooping the Colour.

The general manager, Robin Wright, said: ‘The true honor we feel to create such historic and symbolic regimental standards and colors is absolutely incredible. It’s really a business high for all of us.

Typically, the regiment’s standards and colors are renewed every 10-12 years, but after the death of the late queen, all military regalia must be updated with the insignia of King Charles III and the Tudor crown.

Since it takes three of our skilled people a year to create just four colours, it takes thousands of hours of craftsmanship, from appliqué needlework to hand embroidery, to complete the high standard of elaborate fabrics ready to meet for years to come. to be presented to the armed forces. .’

Quiet and understated, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence has always let his  wife take centre-stage. 

The former navy officer, 68, is regularly by Princess Anne’s side at engagements and events, including the Coronation, and has supported her through family crises – most recently the death of her mother The Queen last September.

After serving as Her Late Majesty’s Equerry in the 1980s, Sir Tim made the leap from royal servant to royal spouse and has now been at heart of the world’s most famous family for more than 30 years.

Sir Tim and Anne tied the knot in 1992, after he survived the crisis of the emergence of letters he had penned to the Princess when she was still married to first husband Captain Mark Phillips.  

Now, he is widely respected for his own glittering navy career – which came to an end in 2010 – and subsequent charity work. 

The Vice Admiral was born in Edenbridge, Kent, in 1955 to Commander Guy Stewart Laurence and his wife Barbara. 

He was the youngest of two, with his older brother Jonathan arriving in 1952. 

When he was 11, Sir Tim was sent off to the prestigious Sevenoaks School, where he was remembered by a fellow former student as ‘definitely’ not a ‘heart-throb with the girls’.

‘They used to call him Tiny Tim and left him pretty much alone,’ they added in the Daily Mail in 1990. 

Sir Tim’s academic results – A-levels in geography, maths and physics – were not good enough to grant him entry to Oxford or Cambridge, even if he had wanted to go.

Instead, he entered Dartmouth Naval College – where the Queen famously had one of her early meetings with Prince Philip when he was a student there and she was a young princess – in 1973.

He went on to enter Durham University on a naval scholarship, studying Geography. There, he edited the university newspaper, Palatinate.

Almost prophetically, one of his articles was a review of a novel by Norwegian writer Knut Hamsen, about a man who falls in love with the wife of his employer, a woman who is far above his social station.

Sir Tim commended the work’s ‘deep understanding of human nature’.

During his time in charge of the paper, he gained the nickname ‘Tiger Tim’, which was apparently a reflection of his pursuit of contributors when they were late in filing articles.

The student was also known for always dressing very smartly, in a jacket with shirt and tie, even as his fellow students’ dress reflected the anti-establishment spirit of the age.  

In 1975, Sir Tim graduated from his Geography degree with a good 2:1 – a grade that was then much harder to achieve than it is now. 

Four years later, he was appointed to the Royal Yacht as a junior ‘Season’ officer, who were defined by the fact that they had to do all the worst jobs and lived in a tiny area of the ship known as ‘The Ghetto’.

Sir Tim’s role included arranging for luggage to come on board and setting up visits for household officials and staff. 

It was on the Royal Yacht that Sir Tim first became acquainted with senior royals, including the Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Anne. 

After his role on the vessel came to an end, he won his first command in 1982, when he was put in charge of the supply boat HMS Cygnet, which was helping to intercept IRA arms supply routes. 

That was after he had served as navigation officer on the destroyer HMS Sheffield, which went on to be sank during the 1982 Falklands War when it hit by an Argentine Exocet missile, leaving 20 sailors dead.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman in 2019, Sir Tim said: ‘I vividly remember watching the news.

‘My first thoughts were of friends. Several officers were killed, all of whom I knew.’

After being summoned to Northern Ireland to lead a patrol against IRA gun-runners, he was mentioned in dispatches. 

Exactly what heroics he performed to get the honour remain shrouded in secrecy.  

Sir Tim then made it to the heart of royal life followed in 1986, when he was appointed as the Queen’s Equerry. 

He replaced Major Hugh Lindsay, who had been killed in an avalanche during a skiing holiday with Prince Charles.

As well as accompanying the Queen at engagements, Sir Tim also escorted other royals, such as Princess Diana and the Duchess of York to venues and events.

His competence saw him quickly become indispensable to the Royal Family, with the Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Anne – albeit secretly – being firm admirers.

Anne’s biographer Brian Hoey described Sir Tim as having a ‘chameleon-like’ quality that enabled him to assimilate into the Royal Family ‘without causing a ripple.’

Writing in his 1997 book, Anne: The Private Princess Revealed, Hoey said Sir Tim had, after entering the Royal Family, ‘quickly taken on an air of assumed aristocracy, dressing, talking and behaving just like any other Royal’.

In 1988, Anne invited him to become a trustee of her charity, The Princess Royal’s Charity Trust, and rumours of their friendship then started to become public knowledge.

By then, her relationship with her husband was on the rocks, and the situation worsened when the existence of a series of letters written by Sir Tim to Anne became public knowledge. 

The letters had been stolen from Anne’s briefcase and delivered to The Sun. Rather than publishing them, the newspaper handed them on to the police. 

Sir Tim’s notoriety then skyrocketed when Buckingham Palace acknowledged him as the author of the letters in a public statement. 

It read: ‘The stolen letters were addressed to the Princess Royal by Commander Timothy Laurence, the Queen’s Equerry. 

‘We have nothing to say about the contents of personal letters sent to Her Royal Highness by a friend which were stolen and which are the subject of a police investigation.’ 

 He went from being an unknown member of the Queen’s staff to a potential love interest of the married Princess Royal.

Approached by the press outside his modest home in Winchester shortly after the ‘warm and intimate’ letters emerged, Sir Tim said: ‘I do not think it is very helpful to make any comment.

‘I have considered the options open to me and have decided the best thing is to say nothing.’

The navy officer did however believe that the saga would put an end to his career.

It had, after all, been less than four decades since King George VI’s married Equerry, Peter Townsend, had seen his own career come to a virtual halt when it emerged he was in love with Princess Margaret.

But instead, within days of the letters’ existence emerging, the Queen showed her support for Sir Tim by having him by her side at public engagements.

He also shared in a picnic during the family’s annual summer holiday and took Captain Philipps’ place in a shooting party.

Prince Philip however had been less forgiving and is said to have been angry that a servant of the Queen had acted in such a way with his married daughter.

But that did not stop Sir Tim’s romance with Anne from blossoming, as her marriage to Phillips petered out. 

The pair announced their separation at the end of August in 1989 and in April 1992 the Palace announced that Anne had filed for divorce. 

Anne and Sir Tim went public with their romance in May 1992, a fortnight after her divorce was finalised. 

The couple took to the floor together at the Royal Caledonian Ball in London for a series of dances.

They then tied the knot in December 1992, although their wedding had to take place in the Scottish Presbyterian Church rather than the Church of England because of the fact that Anne had already been married.  

Their wedding provided a happy ending to what the Queen had described as her ‘annus horribilis’.

As well as Anne’s divorce, there had been the Windsor Castle fire, the separation of Prince Andrew from Sarah Ferguson and the publication of a tell-all book about Princess Diana.

And, just days before the ceremony, Diana and Prince Charles had announced their own separation.   

Anne’s second wedding took place in the small Crathie Kirk church, near the Queen’s beloved Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands. 

Although it had never hosted a royal wedding, the church did have the stamp of royalty. 

Queen Victoria laid its foundation stone in 1893 and generations of royalty had worshipped there.  

 It was an understated affair that was far removed from Anne’s first wedding, which took place in front of 1,600 guests inside the historic surroundings of Westminster Abbey, as millions watched on TV.

Rather than a formal wedding dress, Anne opted for an ivory two-piece woolen suit, and Sir Tim wore his navy uniform. 

His best man was Charles Barker-Wyatt, an old friend from his university days.

The guests numbered around just 30, foremost among them being the Queen, the Queen Mother, Prince Charles and Prince Philip.

In tying the knot again, Anne had become the first member of the Royal Family to remarry after a divorce since Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn in 1533. 

Because the Princess had wanted it to be as low-key an affair as possible, Palace officials had parked two vehicles across the entrance to Crathie Church to try to stop anyone seeing the arrivals.

However, only a few hundred ordinary well-wishers flocked to see them, a much smaller number than the 4,000 that the local police had expected. 

The royal couple spent their wedding night at Craigowan, a six-bedroom house on the Balmoral estate. 

The property was also where Anne and Phillips had announced their engagement. 

Whilst there was some speculation that Anne might have a child together, the rumours never amounted to anything. 

Instead, Sir Tim was a popular stepfather to Anne’s son Peter and daughter Zara, who were 15 and 11 respectively when their mother re-married. 

Sir Tim even enjoyed an amicable relationship with Phillips, with the pair sometimes meeting to shoot together. 

Shortly before his wedding, Sir Tim temporarily left seafaring to take up a desk role as a military assistant to the then Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind. 

He spent nearly three years in Whitehall before returning to sea when he was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1995 and given command of Type-22 frigate HMS Cumberland.

When back in London, he would spend time with Anne in a flat he rented in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, rather than the pair seeing each other in the Princess’s suite of rooms in Buckingham Palace.

The living arrangement was a cosy affair and there was no space for staff and only a small room for their duty protection officer. 

It was also a far cry from Anne’s sprawling main home, Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, which had been bought by the Queen for her and Phillips in 1976. 

Sir Tim’s command of HMS Cumberland came to an end in 1996 and he went on to be appointed commanding officer of HMS Montrose and also taking charge of the flotilla that was protecting the Falkland Islands. 

Promotions continued for the royal officer and he was promoted to Commodore in 1998, after returning to the Ministry of Defence. 

He would always find time however to accompany Princess Anne on engagements when he was back in the UK, a fact that highlighted his commitment to his wife as well as his career. 

Sir Tim’s ascent in the Royal Navy hierarchy continued after the turn of the century, when he was promoted to rear admiral in July 2004 and then vice admiral in 2007.

His formal navy career finally came to an end in 2010, when he retired.

Since then, Sir Tim has been a near-constant presence by Anne’s side, accompanying her at numerous engagements – even though he is officially a non-working royal.

He was by her side during the upheaval of her son’s divorce from his wife Autumn in 2021, as well as the negative publicity generated by revelations that Peter had used his royal status to front milk adverts for a Chinese company. 

Sir Tim was also chairman of conservation body English Heritage from 2015 until the end of last year, after previously serving as vice chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Speaking in an ITV documentary in July 2020 ahead of Anne’s 70th birthday, he admitted to having been ‘surprised’ to discover when he married into the Royal Family that it was ‘full of laughter’. 

Having attended many family occasions at the Balmoral, Sandringham and Windsor Castle estates, Sir Tim said he was shocked by the amount of amusement shared at the events.

He added that whilst the similarities between Princess Anne and her father had been ‘much talked about’, ‘what is less spoken about is the similarities with her mother, the Queen… the common theme is humour, fun.’

Sir Tim also opened up on the relationship with his wife, saying: ‘We are both map and chart people. We like to know where we are and see where we are going.’  

‘We both follow, with great enthusiasm, the Scottish rugby team… as you may have noticed they don’t always win.’ 

But he also confessed that he does not share his wife’s love of horse riding, saying.

He said: ‘She grew up with horses, horses have been part of her life, it’s not something I share with her. Sadly I’ve never been bitten by the horse bug.’ 

Talking about Anne’s first marriage, he added: ‘It’s quite amusing that she married first an army officer and then a naval officer. 

‘So there must be something about the military that attracts her.’ 

In a sign of the affection in which he is held, Sir Tim had a place by Anne’s side on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year.

That was despite the fact that other non-working royals, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, were excluded.

Sir Tim was also there at the Queen’s funeral last September, again providing much-needed support to his wife, who had been with Her Late Majesty in Balmoral when she died.

His most recent appearance came over Easter, when he joined other members of the Royal Family as they attended the Easter Matins Service at St George’s Chapel.

In a sign of the way he has always shunned the limelight, Sir Tim walked several paces behind his wife, allowing her to talk to her brother, Prince Andrew.  

She was recently voted the most popular member of the Royal family for her ferocious work ethic, dedication to duty and ‘keep calm and carry on’ attitude.

Princess Anne follows the example set by her late mother, the Queen, performing her public role uncomplainingly while carefully protecting her personal life behind the scenes.

It is in the privacy of her home in Gloucestershire that she relaxes, enjoying time with her loved ones and horse riding – a place where, she says, ‘it’s really nice to come back and just be yourself.’

Although she maintains a residence at St James’ Palace for use when in London, the rest of the time she can be found ensconced at her country home, the 700-acre Gatcombe Park in the Cotswolds.

At Gatcombe, located between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening in Gloucestershire, the Princess Royal is surrounded by everything she loves: her extended family – complete with more than one former royal spouse – horses and bull terriers.

Where Highgrove, the home of her brother King Charles in nearby Tetbury, boasts immaculately manicured gardens and carefully curated decor, the glimpses we’ve seen of the Princess Royal’s Grade II listed home reveal it as refreshingly cosy, even cluttered. 

Her living room, seen in a photograph posted to Instagram during lockdown, is a comfortable jumble of family photographs, glass cases filled with animal ornaments, dog beds, distinctly 1970s-patterned floral sofas and garish lime green curtains.

Decidedly more rural than royal. 

And while the divisions within the King’s family are all-too-well documented, Anne’s family ties are so close that her son and daughter, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, still live with their children on the estate.

Even her former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, spent many years living at Gatcombe’s Aston Farm following their split and is still often to be found there.

Following Peter’s divorce from Autumn Phillips in 2021, both he and Autumn remained living in the grounds for a number of months to make it easier to co-parent their two children, Savannah and Isla.

Gatcombe has been Anne’s since 1976, when it was bought as a wedding present for her and her then-husband Captain Phillips by the Queen. Its previous owner, the former Conservative home secretary Lord Butler, sold it for between £500,000 and £750,000 – equivalent to almost £6million today.

The 18th century manor house comprises five main bedrooms, four secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms, a library, a billiards room and a conservatory, as well as staff accommodation.

Gatcombe Park, with its acres of land, was the ideal home for two dedicated equestrians. Anne won medals at the European Eventing Championships and, in 1976, became the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympic games, while her husband won an Olympic gold.

However, the couple’s marriage was plagued by infidelity on both sides. Phillips reportedly had ‘semi-public’ affairs with ‘society call girl’ Pamella Bordes, a Canadian public relations executive and with an anchorwoman from a British television show. In 1985, he fathered a love child with a New Zealand art teacher, Heather Tonkin.

Princess Anne, meanwhile, was romantically linked to the actor Anthony Andrews as well as her bodyguard, Peter Cross.

She and Phillips separated in 1989 and eventually divorced in 1992, the Queen’s ‘annus horribilis’ in which three out of four of her children’s marriages ended. 

That year, Princess Anne remarried to Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, a former Royal Navy officer with whom she had been involved for years.

Today, Sir Timothy helps the Princess maintain the estate, which is run as a working organic farm with a range of livestock, including breeding horses and cattle.

‘Being able to take on a place like this – for me, I’ve got to make it work,’ she has said. ‘This is not something that comes for free, this has got to pay its way, otherwise I can’t stay there.’

No wonder the back of her Range Rover is said to be full of hedge-cutting equipment.  

The princess has said she is devoted to her flock of Scots Dumpty hens and her cultivation of White Park cattle has helped an endangered breed survive.  

 

The couple enjoy watching the Scottish rugby team together and Sir Timothy has said of their similarities: ‘We are both map and chart people. We like to know where we are and see where we are going.’ 

However, Sir Timothy admits he does not share his wife’s passion for horses. ‘She grew up with horses, horses have been part of her life, but it’s not something I share with her,’ he said. ‘Sadly I’ve never been bitten by the horse bug.’

It’s perhaps their shared love for all things equestrian that has helped Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips, to remain civil since their separation. Zara has said: ‘When they separated it was obviously sad, but the way they did it was not.’

Phillips moved to Aston Farm, the seven-bedroom farmhouse next to the Gatcombe Park estate, where he continued to live for many years with his second wife Sandy Pflueger and their daughter Stephanie, who grew up there.

Phillips has continued to be the subject of several scandals, including when he moved in with a woman 28 years his junior, showjumper Lauren Hough, after splitting from Pflueger in 2012.

Throughout it all, however, he has remained a central figure at Gatcombe. During Zara’s competitive career, he was often spotted supporting his daughter with his former wife at equestrian events.

To this day, he organises the annual Festival of British Eventing with Anne in the grounds of the Park – an event which attracts the world’s top equestrians, over 40,000 paying spectators and coverage on the BBC.

Last year, the Princess Royal made the magnanimous gesture of accompanying Zara, 41, and Peter, 44, to the wedding of Phillips’s daughter Stephanie to William Hosier at a church in Tetbury.

The Princess Royal offered another glimpse into Gatcombe when she made a broadcast during lockdown. The study seen in the background was another illustration of her practical taste, with off-white wallpaper, soft watercolour paintings and solid wood furniture. 

Just the odd small touch – a large, ornate mirror, for example – hint at a grander royal setting.  

When Zara, an Olympic equestrian – and silver medallist – married rugby player Mike Tindall, they initially lived in a £1.2 million home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, but in 2013 they moved into Aston Farm after Zara’s father moved out. They have carried out extensive renovations and now have an impressive home gym, as well as adjoining stables for Zara’s horses.

Mike is known to get along famously with his mother-in-law, whose sharp wit is well documented. He recently revealed that he once did a ‘slut-drop’ in front of her, ripping his trousers to reveal boxer shorts with the slogan ‘Nibble my nuts’. ‘As I’ve turned around, she’s gone, “I’d rather not”,’ he said.

The Tindalls now have three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas, who was born in 2021 at home. Princess Anne helps to teach her grandchildren, including Savannah and Isla, to ride in their very own paddocks and is often seen cuddling them or holding their hands.

Autumn Phillips now has a new partner, Donal Mulryan, and Peter has a new girlfriend, Lindsay Wallace, but they all appear to be on good terms. All four were all seen attending Stephanie’s wedding last year.

Despite the clamour of children, grandchildren, an ex-husband and his partner, there is one surprising absentee from the family gatherings: Anne’s older brother and neighbour King Charles, who royal watchers suggest is not a regular visitor.

(Not that Anne spends much time at Highgrove). 

Perhaps that is due to change – as Anne’s position grows ever more prominent in the slimmed-down monarchy.

Will her careful older brother brave the dog hair and the mud at the surprisingly relaxed court of the Princess Royal?