King Charles III shared a glimpse of his childhood as he marked the 73rd birthday of his sister Princess Anne.
On Tuesday, the Royal Family’s account on X, formerly Twitter, posted a photo from the Royal Trust Collection showing the 74-year-old monarch and the infant Princess Royal as well as a never-before-seen image of the couple at the coronation. day.
“Wishing Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal a very happy birthday today!” the account tweeted.
King Charles III shared a glimpse of his childhood as he marked the 73rd birthday of his sister Princess Anne. (Chris Jackson/Getty/The Royal Trust Collection/Royal Family Twitter)
The black and white childhood photo was taken at Clarence House in July 1951, when Charles was 2 years old and Anne 11 months old. In the photo, the siblings sat side by side in matching pushchairs as Charles leaned over and held his little sister’s hand.
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The future king was dressed in pajamas with a peter pan collar and the princess was dressed in white with a matching ruffled baby bonnet.
In the backstage photo from the king’s big occasion on May 8, the siblings shared a smile. Charles wore his full regalia, including the robe of succession and the Imperial State Crown.
Anne, who played a special role in the coronation as “Gold Stick in Waiting”, wore a Royal Navy military uniform. The golden rod in waiting traditionally acts as the king’s bodyguard and personal protector.
After Charles and his wife Queen Camilla were crowned, Anne rode behind the couple in the Golden Coach and led a procession of 6,000 members of the armed forces to Buckingham Palace.
Anne, who has been called ‘the hardest working royal’, turned 73 on August 15 (STF/AFP via Getty Images)
Anne is an expert rider who started competition at the age of 11. In 1976, she became the first royal to compete in the Olympics. She rode Goodwill, the horse of her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in the equestrian team in a three-day event at the Montreal Olympics.
During an interview with CBC, the princess joked about one particular benefit of serving as Gold Stick.
“I have a role as Colonel of the Blues and Royals in the Household Cavalry regiment as the Gold Stick,” she told the outlet. “And Gold Stick was the original close protection officer. So that’s a role I was asked if I’d like to play for this coronation, so I said yes.
“And above all, it solves my clothing problem.
Charles gave Anne a special role in her coronation as “Gold Stick in Waiting”. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Royal sources reportedly told the Mirror that Charles had personally expressed his wish for her to take on the role, and that she was “incredibly honoured”.
“The direction of the King’s decision is clear to all,” a Buckingham Palace insider said. “It rewards the Princess Royal for her loyalty and unwavering devotion to duty above all else.
“The King considers his sister a trusted lieutenant, and she is the perfect example of such a relationship,” the source noted.
The Waiting Staff of Gold is traditionally the king’s bodyguard and personal protector. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Although Anne has never served in the military, she holds a number of titles affiliated with the British Armed Forces.
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In 1993, the royal was given the ceremonial rank of rear admiral in the Royal Navy, then promoted to vice admiral in 2009, then admiral in 2012.
Last week, Anne and eight other working royals received new military appointments. (Hugo Burnand/Buckingham Palace)
In honor of her 70th birthday in 2020, the late Queen Elizabeth promoted her to General in the British Army and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force.
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Last week, Anne and eight working members of the Royal Family received new military titles from Charles. Anne became Assistant Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, a role Buckingham Palace claimed was to recognize “Her Royal Highness’s close ties to Scotland” as well as her existing ties as Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st battalion, The Ranger Regiment and the 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Anne is married to retired naval officer, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence. The couple married in 1992, the same year Anne finalized her divorce from her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. The Princess and Phillips, who have been married for 19 years, share son Peter Phillips, 44, and daughter Zara Tindall, 41.