The Princess Royal has carried out a very meaningful engagement that links her to her father and grandfather.
Princess Anne visited the Royal Navy Sailing Association, also known as the RNSA, for the first time as its Admiral and Patron. She was there to help celebrate the organisation’s 90th birthday after its founding in 1935.
Her Royal Highness is not the RSNA’s first royal admiral, as she follows in her family’s footprints. Her late father, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and her grandfather, King George VI, both served as the RNSA Admiral.
Princess Anne looked happy to be there, smiling and chatting animatedly with trustees, staff, and volunteers. She was also able to present Wayne Shirley, the RNSA’s Manager, with the Life Flag Officer’s Burgee to thank him for his dedication.Â
In addition to following her beloved father in the role, the Princess Royal also chose a very personal piece of jewellery for the engagement.
The Princess wore a gold brooch designed to look like knotted rope made of gold with two pearls and two rubies.
Scottish jeweller Alf Grant was commissioned to make the personal piece in 1990 to mark Princess Anne’s 40th birthday and her visit to the Helensburgh yacht club. The knot is specifically the reef knot, also known as the Hercules knot.
