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Princess Anne is a delight in fun floral dress during regal Sri Lanka dinner

The Princess Royal is currently on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence


Princess Anne smiling during CHIO Media Night 2023
Georgia Brown
Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
On 11 January 2024
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Princess Anne was a vision of regal beauty on Wednesday evening, as she and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence were hosted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka. 

Princess Anne, 73, and Sir Tim, 68, are on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka at the request of the Foreign Office. Her presence at the President's official residence in Colombo on 10 January was in honour of the 75th anniversary of UK-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.

Putting on a colourful display, the Princess Royal asserted her sartorial prowess in a ravishing red shift dress adorned with blooming pastel flowers. For an additional pop of colour, the royal added a berry-red lipstick, balancing her ensemble with a draped cream scarf and white gloves. 

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It's not the first time Princess Anne has worn gloves in unconventional situations. Though she looks undeniably elegant, fans have been known to question the Princess' decision to wear gloves in all weather conditions. 

"Just an observation, but the gloves seem a bit over the top for daytime," one fan wrote on X.

Princess Anne attending a charity performance by the Bolshoi Ballet at The Royal Albert Hall © Tim Graham
Princess Anne has long made gloves a regular accessory

The Princess Royal likely had a good reason for wearing them – they help to avoid germs when meeting and shaking lots of hands. Her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, often did the same, with Princess Kate recently following suit too.

princess anne and sir tim at royal ascot © Getty
The Princess Royal often opts for white gloves, no matter the weather

Completing her outfit, thrifty Princess Anne wore her most-loved accessory - a set of pearl earrings and a three-strand pearl necklace, which is believed to have belonged to the late Queen.

"I love the Princess’s outfit," penned a fan on X, as another wrote: "She is amazing. Her outfit is great." 

Princess Anne paired her beautiful outfit with pearl accessories© The Royal Family
Princess Anne paired her beautiful outfit with pearl accessories

Princess Anne previously visited Sri Lanka in 1995 where she visited projects set up by Save The Children. King Charles, then Prince of Wales, also attended the 50th anniversary of Independence Day in Sri Lanka in 1998.

In a surprising move, the down-to-earth royal - who is often named the hardest working royal each year - chose to fly commercial to Sri Lanka rather than take a private royal aircraft. 

Britain's Princess Anne (C), Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence (top) arrives for a three days official visit to Sri Lanka at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on January 10, 2024. © ISHARA S. KODIKARA
The Princess Royal flew commercial and even carried her own bags

Sharing photos of Anne and Sir Tim boarding the plane, the airline penned in the caption: "A service fit for a royal! We are delighted to welcome onboard Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on her journey from London to Colombo on a two-day official visit to mark the 75 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the UK."

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