Message to Princess Anne: Put your feet up ma’am and enjoy your birthday – you deserve it

Royal Central’s Editor-at-Large, Charlie Proctor, is hopeful that Princess Anne will put herself first for just one day, and celebrate her 75th birthday in August in style.

Hard-working, self-effacing and utterly dedicated to duty. These are the words I would use to describe the Princess Royal. Despite being well past retirement age, she remains a constant in the royal diary, carrying out more engagements than many other royals.

Therefore, it is surely a surprise to nobody that her impending 75th birthday will be a low-key affair, with Her Royal Highness set to use the occasion to highlight the charities and organisations that she works with.

Typically selfless… but ma’am – we insist August 15 should all be about you.

Just imagine waking up in the morning to the most tremendous breakfast made by Sir Tim himself, followed by a trip to Newbury for the races.

Then return home to Gatcombe Park for the party of all parties, organised by son-in-law Mike Tindall.

Yes – August 15 is your day ma’am! It will be a day where we can all celebrate the immense contribution you have made to public life, and the countless lives you have changed for the better.

Despite Royal Central’s protestations, we know that HRH will do the opposite. Although no doubt she will enjoy a quiet birthday with her family, there will certainly be no wide scale celebrations.

Princess Anne’s private secretary, Colonel John Boyd, said as much during a speech to representatives from various charities who had gathered at Buckingham Palace.

Addressing the attendees, Col Boyd said he understood there had been “a significant amount of interest” in his principal’s milestone birthday.

He said: “As you are aware, the princess has given decades of time and support to more than 400 charities and patronages.

“It probably won’t come as a surprise, given HRH’s commitment to you all, that the way the princess wants to celebrate this milestone is to replicate what she’s done on previous significant birthdays and hold this charities forum… to once again understand how she can help you, at a time when the third sector is facing unprecedented challenges and transformations.”

Princess Anne affirmed this, saying “You very kindly asked me to become patron of your organisations, so it’s an honour for me to have all of you here.”

Likewise, it is understood that Mike Tindall is trying to organise a birthday party for his mother-in-law.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm from the princess, the former rugby star is planning a grand celebration in the ‘party barn’ at Gatcombe Park.

Good luck Mike, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. This must happen! I’ll bring the bunting, and hay to attract some horses.

If anybody deserves the most fantastic birthday, it is Princess Anne.