Princess Anne is marking a milestone in style. Ahead of her 75th birthday on Friday, 15 August, Buckingham Palace released an official portrait of the Princess Royal, taken with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, 70, to whom she has been married since 1992.
The photograph, captured by royal photographer Chris Jackson, was taken more than a month earlier, just before the State Banquet at Windsor Castle in July for the visit of French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife. Since its release, the image has gone viral — not just for its warmth, but for a notable change to Anne’s famously consistent style.
For over five decades, the Princess has been known for her ‘60s-inspired bouffant up-do, a hairstyle so constant it became part of her public identity. In the new portrait, however, she trades the bouffant for an elegant chignon, with volume gathered at the back and sides rather than the crown. While subtle, the change has been met with widespread approval from royal watchers.
Comments online ranged from “What a beautiful portrait!” to “Princess Royal looks absolutely beautiful.” Others called it “a lovely photo” and praised the timeless elegance of the image.
In the portrait, Anne wears an ivory gown with lace detailing on the bodice, paired with a cropped jacket. She also dons the diamond Festoon Tiara, gifted to her in 1973 for her 23rd birthday by the Worldwide Shipping Group, following the christening of one of their ships. Sir Timothy appears beside her in a black tuxedo with red cuffs, decorated with multiple medals of honour.