Princess Anne opens doors to private Gatcombe Park home to mark 'no-fuss' 75th birthday


A new portrait of the Princess Royal pictured at her Gloucestershire estate has been released by the palace to mark her milestone


Princess Anne pictured in blue dress outside Gatcombe Park © John Swannell for Buckingham Palace
Danielle StaceyOnline Royal Correspondent - London
August 14, 2025
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A happy and relaxed Princess Anne is pictured at her private home in a new photograph released ahead of her 75th birthday on Friday.

The Princess Royal, sporting a royal blue dress with contrasting white buttons, collars and cuffs, is pictured smiling by a window outside her Gatcombe Park home.

The official portrait was taken by photographer John Swannell at Anne's Gloucestershire estate last month.

With her hair styled up in her signature bouffant, the Princess is also pictured wearing sapphire and diamond earrings, as well as red lipstick.

Gatcombe Park has been the royal's home since 1976, with her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, and their respective families both residing on the estate.

© John Swannell for Buckingham Palace
Princess Anne is pictured outside her Gatcombe Park home in a new photo to celebrate her 75th birthday

The countryside abode is also where Anne was taken to hospital just over a year ago after she was believed to have been struck by a horse.

Anne's low-key birthday plans

The King's sister, often hailed as the hardest-working member of the royal family, has eschewed any major public commemorations for her big day, preferring to host a special forum for her charities in June instead.

© Getty

1. Hardest-working royal

In 2024, Princess Anne retained her crown as the hardest-working royal for a fourth year in a row, racking up an impressive 395 engagements in UK, alongside 79 abroad. 

2. Criminal offence

Princess Anne became the first senior member of the royal family to be convicted of a criminal offence. In 2002, her three-year-old English Bull Terrier bit two children in Windsor, Great Park. She pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act and was fined £500.

3. Lucky escape 

Just four weeks after her wedding in 1974, Princess Anne survived a kidnapping attempt. While driving down The Mall, her chauffeur had to stop the car due to another vehicle blocking the road. Ian Ball got out of the car and shot the chauffeur. Despite Ian shooting a total of four men in the encounter, Anne escaped unharmed. 

4. Breaking tradition

When Anne's children, Peter and Zara, were born, she declined the chance to grant them royal titles. She explained her decision to Vanity Fair: "I think it was probably easier for them, and I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles."

5. Signature hairdo

In a 2020 documentary, Princess Anne exclaimed her surprise that it took two hours to style the hair of Erin Doherty, who portrays her in The Crown. Anne said it only takes her 10 to 15 minutes to do her own hair. 

Despite the milestone, Anne had not wanted any fuss, telling aides that she was only interested in marking a birthday with a zero in it, "not the fives".

© Alamy Stock Photo
Anne delivering a speech at her Charities Forum reception in June

"This personifies what Her Royal Highness cares about," a Palace source previously said. "She didn't want to do anything for her birthday but bring her charities together to hear more about their work and how she can help them."

© Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace
Sir Tim and Princess Anne pictured before the French state banquet at Windsor Castle

The Princess is enjoying the day privately with her husband of 33 years, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, with the pair reportedly on their annual sailing holiday around the Western Isles of Scotland,

Another portrait of Anne taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson was released last week, showing the Princess in a white gown and the Festoon tiara with Sir Tim on the night of the Windsor Castle state banquet for French President Emmanuel Macron.

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