What Princess Anne Is Really Like Behind Closed Doors

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Okay, we'll be honest. Sometimes a tiny part of us wishes that Princess Anne was the queen. Why? Because she's proven to be a total boss, that's why. The Princess Royal might seem all prim and proper from afar, but behind closed doors, she's much more relaxed and, according to those who know her best, a total delight. In fact, former royal butler Grant Harrold told Reach PLC in 2024 that Anne doesn't put on much of a persona when she's out and about. What you see is what you get, albeit a slightly more professional version (she's a senior working royal, after all). 

"She's exactly what you see in public, there's not really a different side to her," Harrold shared (via Express). "Obviously, everyone likes her, she's very much like her mother and her father with very similar traits to both of them." Harrold described Anne as "down-to-earth," citing her decision to not have any royal titles bestowed upon her two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, and the fact that she enjoys driving herself places, rather than relying on a chauffeur. Fans are understandably curious about what the royals are like behind the wheel, and Anne is quite the unruly driver. 

She has quite a few speeding tickets under her belt — just like your everyday British citizen who enjoys burning rubber every now and again. Harrold isn't the only royal-adjacent commentator who's praised Anne's unpretentious personality. Former royal head chef Visen Anenden told Express that he too saw Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II reflected in her demeanor. "She's quite an easy-going character, and very traditional," he noted. Anenden also praised her dedication, enthusing, "She's the unsung hero of the royal family. I don't think people realize how many events she does a year." 

Princess Anne is beloved and respected by both the public and her family members alike. Those she is closest to, like her brother, King Charles III, have even found themselves christened with sweet nicknames by the Princess Royal. But she is also revered and respected, especially by those who joined the royal family by marriage, including Mike Tindall, who is married to Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall. Pundits are understandably curious about what Anne is like when she's among her family, and Mike told "Good Morning Britain" in 2024 that he still very much treats her like the royal she is. 

When the presenter asked Mike how he addresses Anne within the palace walls, he replied, "M'am," (via People). Mike has been married to Zara since 2011, but clearly, he still has great respect for his mother-in-law. Anne probably wouldn't mind if he called her "Mum," given that she's seemingly pretty informal when she's among her loved ones. In the BBC's 2023 documentary "Charles III: The Coronation Year," footage was captured of the princess heartily greeting the king with a "Hello, old bean," per Woman & Home. Charles' bemused expression told onlookers that he quite enjoyed this endearing nickname, and he promptly planted a kiss on Anne's hand in return. 

The Telegraph's royal editor Hanna Furness told the outlet's "Royal Insight" digital series in 2024 that she believes Anne has played a vital part in supporting her brother following his ascension to the throne. "They have this very warm relationship, and she is probably in a better position than anyone to give him advice, give him a bit of sympathy when he needs it, give him a bit of a pep talk," Furness surmised.

When Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, released his book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," in September 2026, he did not spare any members of The Firm, including Princess Anne. But she has remained mute on claims the 9th Earl Spencer made about her in his bombshell memoir, namely that she is cold and even a tad rude at times. In particular, Spencer recalled being invited to a royal dinner. He was informed that Anne would be his companion at the table and nervously thought of conversation starters ahead of the event so as not to look completely flustered. The earl landed on the Princess Royal's daughter's christening, which took place that very same day. 

Only, Anne reportedly didn't have much patience for small talk. "When she turned my way, I asked, 'And how did your daughter's christening go today, Ma'am?'" Spencer recounted. "She stopped, looked at me witheringly, and asked, 'Tell me, how's a christening supposed to go?' And I, being seventeen and clueless about dinner-party small-talk, turned red and looked at my plate, unable to conjure up a reply." He added that Anne appeared "happy to make [me] feel small." Many have commented on her dry wit in the past, so it's perfectly plausible that a teenage Spencer simply wasn't mature enough to realize that Anne was engaging in some deadpan humor. 

Someone else who previously ended up on the other end of an awkward conversation with the Princess Royal was former royal butler Grant Harrold, who once unexpectedly found himself on the telephone with the princess, and, in his flustered state, accidentally called her "Sir," as he sheepishly told Express. She handled the flub with a friendly laugh. "Anne has always been known for being quick-witted and fun," Harrold explained.

Princess Anne has been a horse lover all her life. Her father, Prince Philip, once even quipped that Anne was more in love with horses than she was actual human beings. "If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested," Philip jested, per People. But riding horses isn't the only thing Anne fills her free time with; she also does all the chores required to ensure they are well taken care of. Former British racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart shared a candid conversation with Anne during an event for his Race Against Dementia charity in 2020, during which he recalled how he was shocked at how able (and willing!) the Princess Royal was to do some dirty work when it came to her horses. The two met at an awards ceremony in 1971. Anne had won the Daily Express Sportswoman of the Year award, while Stewart took home the Sportsman of the Year award. 

They were seated next to each other at the event, and Anne noted that she had to burn some rubber to get there in time. Stewart asked her what the holdup had been, and Anne replied, "Well, I was cleaning out the stables." Stewart admitted he was aghast. "I thought, for God's sake, the princess was cleaning out stables? I don't really think that was appropriate." An amused Anne explained that they were raised to respect the work that is required to properly look after horses. "If you rode, you had to understand about them and what they needed. And they were the first thing you did and the last thing you did. [It was your job] to look after them," she reasoned.

If you've ever wondered what the royal family's homes really look like, there is at least one member whose residence we can almost guarantee will make you feel right at home: Princess Anne's. She might be the Princess Royal, but the interior of her Gatcombe Park residence hardly proclaims her status. Royal watchers got a glimpse at Anne's cozy house during the COVID-19 pandemic when a snap of her and husband Sir Timothy Laurence enjoying a game of rugby on the TV made its way onto Instagram. Their living room was refreshingly normal. It wasn't exactly as neat as a pin either — tables were stacked high with books and paperwork, with some odds and ends displayed on shelves too. If we hadn't known this living room belonged to the Princess Royal, we never would've guessed!

Palace insiders confirmed to Hello! magazine, in August 2026, that Anne's home is her sanctuary, and the one place she can completely relax. "Gatcombe is her bolthole, where she is not the Princess Royal — she is Anne. It's a lot less formal," Ailsa Anderson, Queen Elizabeth II's former communications secretary, disclosed to the publication. In 2023, The Lady Magazine reported that, while Anne's house is the picture of simplicity on the inside, she does have a walk-in fridge, which is reportedly one of her favorite things about the property. In fact, she often steps inside and munches at leisure on the delicious nibbles left by her cook. Anne's kitchen also doesn't look especially royal, with the outlet describing it as "'Downton Abbey' meets country farmhouse," (via Woman & Home). Plus, the house is mostly inhabited by the princess's dogs, who seemingly get to roam about the place freely.

She might seem calm and reserved in public, but Princess Anne has a competitive streak that makes an appearance when she's among her family. During an appearance on "The Good, The Bad & The Rugby" podcast, in 2023, Prince William recalled how he and Anne would race against each other at Balmoral when he was a kid. The Princess Royal had little regard for the fact that her nephew was just a child who would love a win. Instead, she put some real effort into it and would often finish ahead of the young William, who added that she was "quite quick" and competitive Anne was a sight to behold. "[The] look that [she] had on [her] face was quite terrifying," he admitted.

Royal biographers have also covered Anne's competitive nature, with Ingrid Seward discussing it at length in her book, "My Mother and I." She noted that, as King Charles III's spare (before Prince Andrew was born), Anne made sure to stand out. "While she was second in line for almost nine and a half years, she made sure she was first in everything else," Seward penned. She claimed that Anne and Charles frequently got into scuffles because of the Princess Royal's competitive nature. "Everything he had, she wanted, and according to Anne they fought 'like cats and dogs,'" Seward dished.

Charles reportedly still doted on his sister despite all this, with Seward describing the future monarch as "surprisingly gentle." As they got older, Anne's attempts to outshine her brother ceded, and as royal pundits can attest these days, the two get along swimmingly.