Year after year, Princess Anne is named the hardest-working royal, with 2023 seeing her take on 247 engagements.
That number is set to be even higher in 2024, with the 73-year-old taking on many of King Charles and Princess Kate's duties too, while they're off sick.
Princess Anne has taken on 70% of the workload for the royal family, according to analysis from wellbeing experts at GoSmokeFree. Over an eight-week period she is set to undertake 55 of the 78 public engagements listed in the royal diary.
Though she has been working hard consistently, this is much more than she normally takes on, with data from the summer of 2022 indicating she took on around 50% of all royal engagements – quite the uptick!
© GettyThough she has been working hard consistently, this is much more than she normally takes on, with data from the summer of 2022 indicating she took on around 50% of all royal engagements – quite the uptick!
With her busy schedule in mind, HELLO! wondered how Princess Anne stays so well all the time, and she certainly has tricks up her stylish sleeves for keeping the bugs at bay, such as wearing gloves when she's shaking hands with people, but there is surely more to her stamina…
© GettyWe spoke to health and fitness professionals for their take on how Princess Anne stays so healthy.
1. Weight training
Unlike Princess Kate who is vocal about her love of fitness, Princess Anne has never spoken openly about her exercise routine, but as a former Olympian (she competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games), she likely trained hard and kept it up throughout her life, with weight training essential for staying well in midlife and beyond.
© GettyWhile we're not suggesting Princess Anne is bench pressing in the gym, adding gentle weight training could well be key to her stamina, as Inez Griffin, Senior Health and Wellbeing Physiologist at Nuffield Health explains: "The long-term, preventative benefits of strength training for your health and wellbeing are incredibly important.
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"Resistance training strengthens our muscles, and while this is happening the muscles are also pulling on the bones, stimulating them to maintain or improve their density and strength.
"This has a further knock-on effect in terms of our mobility, fracture risks and also reduces our risk of joint pain, which is more common as we age." This could explain why Anne always appears so nimble!
© Max Mumby/IndigoWeight training is also crucial in later life as it helps with heart health, Inez explains.
"For women in particular, our risk of heart disease increases after menopause, as hormonal changes mean our risk factors increase. After menopause, some women may experience changes in body fat distribution (more visceral fat), increased blood pressure, increased LDL (harmful) cholesterol and decreased HDL (protective) cholesterol.
"Regular resistance training can help reduce these risk factors, by lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol profile and improving body composition."
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2. A strong immune system
Princess Anne appears to have a strong immune system, too. Over the years, she has rarely been reported as unwell – and even when her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence caught Covid in December 2021, the royal didn't test positive – a testament to her strong immune system.
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3. Horse riding
As a former Olympic rider, Anne is likely to still take to horseback - a hobby her mother the Queen kept up well into her 90s. Horse riding helps with balance, toning and muscle strength, all essential as we age.
4. Her busy schedule
The Princess Royal's busy schedule could also be key to the royal staying well - the fact that she is so active, regularly attending events, will help keep her joints supple and stop her muscles from seizing up.
Moving regularly is a key way to prevent muscle stiffness and tension, which are common as we get older.
