The family secret that led to the Princess Royal being called Anne
20th February 2025
Anne is one of the most popular names for queens in English history but after the 18th century, it all but disappeared from royal use. Until 1950, when the then heir to the throne chose it for her second child. Why did the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II end up with a name that, at the time, wasn’t a usual one for members of the Royal Family?
The answer can perhaps best be found in the…