King Charles always knew he was destined for the throne. But through every chapter of his royal life, one figure remained constant by his side — his younger sister, Princess Anne. Born just two years apart, Charles and Anne shared not only a close age gap but also a childhood shaped by royal protocol, public scrutiny, and long absences from their parents.
With Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip often traveling for royal duties, Charles and Anne were left to grow up largely in the company of staff. Their bond began early, strengthened by quiet shared hobbies like gardening. Charles later recalled how they tried growing tomatoes together in a small vegetable patch at Buckingham Palace, guided by a kindly head gardener they both remembered fondly.
Although Anne was seen as the stronger personality — and reportedly their father’s favorite — the relationship between the siblings deepened with time, built on mutual respect and decades of shared experience.
Strength and Distance in the Public Eye
As they moved into adulthood, their differences became more visible. Anne embraced her role with a no-nonsense attitude and a heavy work ethic, earning a reputation as the hardest working royal. Charles, meanwhile, bore the burden of kingship in waiting. Reports suggested that Prince Philip was harder on Charles than Anne, viewing his daughter as tougher and more capable. At times, this led to a quiet rivalry between the siblings.
Still, their loyalty to one another remained firm. Anne’s public support was especially clear in moments of transition and crisis. She walked beside Charles during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession, a visible sign of their shared grief and responsibility. When Charles became king, he named her one of his Counsellors of State — a role that allows her to stand in for him if needed. And in 2024, following his cancer diagnosis, Anne once again took on more royal duties, helping carry the load without fanfare.
Shared Humor and Unshakable Loyalty
What sets their relationship apart is not just duty but warmth. Anne affectionately calls her brother “Old Bean,” and they often exchange dry jokes in public and private. Charles once recounted how someone confused him for Anne when he wore a kilt. Her response was simple and sharp, “And I am wearing trousers today.”
Even their early romantic lives overlapped in an odd twist. Before marrying Camilla, Charles grew close to her while she was still seeing Andrew Parker Bowles — the same man who briefly dated Anne. Despite this tangled past, the siblings maintained their closeness.
Over the years, Anne has not just supported Charles publicly but served as someone who understands the pressures of monarchy better than almost anyone else. Theirs is a bond shaped by shared duty, tempered by time, and held together by loyalty that never made headlines — but always mattered.