Following a whirlwind visit to Oslo to support her godson King Haakon at his father's funeral on 9 September, the Princess Royal celebrated happier news on Thursday as she was awarded an honorary degree at the University of Lincoln.
She was pictured at the University’s Riseholme Campus, where she opened the first-of-its-kind Geothermal Glasshouse, which will enable University researchers and businesses to "develop and test new crops, technologies and growing systems, supporting more efficient and sustainable food production."
Princess Anne was awarded Doctor of the University, honoris causa, in recognition of her commitment to agriculture and rural communities.
The Princess Royal's autumnal look
Dressed in ruby red, Anne brought a touch of nostalgia to the day with her 60s-style paisley print midi dress. The deep green and red colours were complemented by the poppies dispersed along the pleated fabric and the pussybow neckline, which was visible above her longline red coat.
A navy bag and matching gloves completed her colourful, autumnal outfit, while her hair was styled in her usual no-fuss updo.
During the visit, which marked Anne's first visit since opening the Brayford Pool Campus Engineering Hub in 2012, the royal saw some of the new technologies from the University’s Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology, including autonomous robots designed to navigate challenging agricultural environments such as polytunnels.
Princess Anne holds onto hardest-working royal title
© WireImageAnne's outing only serves as further proof of why she has once again been crowned the hardest-working royal in 2026, fulfilling a whopping 183 days of engagements, according to figures compiled by the Press Association from the Court Circular.
She is not the only royal to have upped her appearances either. The Duchess of Edinburgh has been out for 147 days, 17 days more than in 2025, and King Charles has had a particularly busy year, with 164 days of scheduled engagements, which is higher than his first and second year on the throne.
