SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

DONATE NOW
British RoyalsFeatures

Royal Pictures from History: the birth of Princess Anne

By
13th August 2020

The Princess Royal was born on August 15th 1950, the second child of the then Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Her arrival, at Clarence House in London, provided Britain with a brand new princess but although there was excitement and interest in the birth, the royal baby mania that had accompanied the debut of her big brother, Charles, two years earlier, wasn’t quite so evident. That’s not to say the brand new princess didn’t make her entrance without the usual royal celebrations. As part of our celebrations marking the 70th birthday of Princess Anne, Royal Central looks back on the moment a royal birth was announced.

August 15th 1950, London

Embed from Getty Images

Before the gold easel and a crowd of expectation around the gates of Buckingham Palace, this royal birth announcement was every bit as practical as the princess it heralded. This image, taken on the afternoon of August 15th 1950, marks the moment that the formal confirmation of the safe delivery of a daughter to the Duchess of Edinburgh was announced. The piece of paper, pinned perilously to a board, was hung outside the Home Office.

The baby girl had been born at 11.50 that morning at her parents’ London home, Clarence House. Her names would later be confirmed as Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise. Third in line to the throne at birth, HRH Princess Anne of Edinburgh made her debut in official photos soon afterwards where she looked less than thrilled to be getting a kiss from her brother.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Anne celebrates her 70th birthday this year.

Share:
About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.