She’s the Windsor who regularly tops the list when the year’s engagements are counted up and yet often those many events can fly beneath the radar. OK, this week we all got to see Princess Anne in action as she batted away questions about the Duke of Edinburgh the day after he was involved in a car crash at Sandringham. But usually, much of the Princess Royal’s work misses the headlines until we all do the maths at the end of December and realise that Anne’s been putting in the hours. Again. So as 2019 gets well and truly under way, here’s the first of many looks at the Princess Royal’s working week.
Anne was in Derbyshire on Tuesday where she celebrated three anniversaries. The Princess Royal marked the thirtieth birthday of the Derbyshire Carers Association – the organisation was set up in 1988 to help those looking after ill relatives and friends. The princess also marked the fortieth anniversary of the Mid-Derbyshire Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association and went on to celebrate sixty years of Toddbrook Sailing Club.
The following day, Princess Anne was in Northumberland where she visited Longstone Lighthouse – she is the Master of the Corporation of Trinity House. There was also time for a trip to St. Aidan’s Church in Bamburgh before the princess headed to County Durham. There, Anne visited HMP Low Newton in her role as patron of the Butler Trust which supports work going on in jails across the UK.
Thursday took the Princess Royal to Cumbria where among her engagements was a visit to the Flimby based New Balance factory in her role as President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association. There was also at stop in Barrow in Furness to open a new hub run by Project John which offers support to young people as well as a visit to the foodbank based at Abbey Road Baptist Church in Barrow where she got the chance to meet many of those who volunteer to help sort and distribute donations. The princess also chatted to some of those who have been supported by the food bank which last year gave out over 7,000 parcels to those in need. There was also time for a visit to the Save the Children ship in Kirkby Lonsdale during her time in Cumbria.
Plenty of people saw Anne, in a very familiar red coat, as she headed out and about on Friday. The princess was visiting Edge Hill University in Lancashire to open the new Catalyst building and found a larger than normal press contingent waiting for her as news of the car crash involving her father continued to dominate. Anne’s typically brusque response to questions over his well being – ”I’ve no idea” – ended up on news bulletins around the world. It was the final scheduled engagement of the princess’ week.
According to the Court Circular, the Princess Royal has carried out 16 engagements so far in 2019. In 2018, her yearly tally was 518.
