Fierce Women: Princess Anne Publicly Refuses Queen Camilla’s Polite Request
British royal family news divulges that Princess Anne and Queen Camilla are two fierce women with a reputation for taking no guff. How do they get along when put in a head-to-head situation? You may be surprised!
The ladies recently participated in a rare joint engagement at the University of London, and their abrupt interaction had people talking. Here’s what to know about their interesting interaction!
Royal Family News – Anne The Princess Royal
At the university it fell to Anne the Princess Royal to bestow an honorary doctorate to her sister-in-law. Interestingly, the queen took the occasion to indicate that Anne should break with legendary royal protocol by walking in front of her.
The Princess Royal is the Chancellor of the University of London and it’s not often that she and Camilla conduct a joint appearance with just the two of them.
The event was held this week and Queen Camilla was given the honorary doctorate of literature due to her advocacy of literacy and literature.
At the university “Queen Camilla invited Princess Anne to enter the room before her, where they were due to meet the other four recipients of the University of London’s honorary doctorate awarded alongside the Queen.”
Royal Family News – Camilla Respects Anne
Camilla likely made the gesture out of respect but People reports that “Princess Anne — long a student of royal protocol — smiled and politely refused, allowing Camilla to enter first.”
The outlet notes that there is a “sequential hierarchy of nominal importance” used at formal or state occasions. In reality, Camilla as Queen ranks higher in the royal precedence than Anne even though she is not a blood royal.
So, sticking to protocol, Anne let her sister-in-law go first. At the ceremony Sir Mark Lowcock praised Queen Camilla for how she has “embraced her role [as] a committed public servant with grace, compassion and tireless energy” since marrying King Charles.
Currently Camilla is a patron or president of more than 100 charities, while Anne is known as the hardest working royal.
Royal Family News – Anne Respects Royal Protocol
Anne, the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, spoke about Camilla in the 2023 BBC documentary Charles III: The Coronation.
She said “I’ve known her a long time, off and on. Her understanding of her role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla married in 2005. She is the king’s second wife and they have known one another for decades.
Queen Camilla is the seventh member of the royal family to receive an honorary doctorate.
