The relationship between Diana, Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal has long been in the spotlight, with many commentators wondering what the bond between the two sisters-in-law was like.
The bond, or lack of one, between the two women was often discussed in the years before Diana’s death, and continues to be the subject of discussion.
Their relationship was a key aspect of the recent Channel 5 documentary, Paxman on the Queen’s Children, where it was reported that the two women had very different ideas about royal life.
Presenter Jeremy Paxman looked at claims that Anne felt overshadowed by Diana and became concerned that her sister in law, over a decade her junior, made her look ‘’out of touch’’.
He also examined whether Diana would try to leave events if she thought Anne would be there as well as discussing the Princess Royal’s concerns over her sister in law’s attitude towards the media.
The programme, which aim to look at how the Queen’s children have helped shape the way we all view the modern monarchy, also explored the long standing friendship between Diana and the Duke of York who were just a year apart in age and who used to play together at Sandringham. Diana spent her early years at Park House on the Queen’s Norfolk estate after her parents took on the lease there following their own marriage.
Airing before the Duke & Duchess of Sussex, the programme asked whether Anne and Edward would remain relevant given the up and coming generation of the Royal Family.
Thankfully, those questions were unfounded, with the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh continuing to fly the flag for the working royals.
This article was originally published in February 2019, and has been updated to reflect recent changes.
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