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Princess Anne Declares No Plans for Retirement From Royal Duties

Princess Anne has expressed her commitment to continuing her royal responsibilities, even as many peers consider retirement. In a recent interview with the Press Association, the 74-year-old sister of King Charles made it clear that she has no intentions of scaling back her engagements in the foreseeable future.

This conversation took place during her two-day working visit to South Africa, representing her first international trip of 2025. Anne stated, “I don’t think there’s a retirement program on this particular life,” affirming her dedication to her role within the royal family, as highlighted by the BBC.

When questioned further about the potential for reducing her commitments, she remarked, “It really isn’t written in, no. It isn’t really an option, no, I don’t think so.” This sentiment underscores her strong work ethic and lack of desire to follow the path of retirement that some of her contemporaries may be considering.

For some time, Princess Anne has been recognized as the most industrious member of the British royal family. Informal assessments made by followers of royal activities, utilizing data from the Court Circular, have placed her at the forefront of public engagements since 2021. These evaluations highlight her unwavering dedication to her royal duties despite the challenges that have arisen.

Anne’s work ethic may also be influenced by the legacy of her late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Philip continued his public engagements well into his 90s before ultimately stepping back at age 96 in 2017, while Queen Elizabeth remained committed to her royal duties until her passing, famously carrying out her final engagement just two days before her death in September 2022.

In 2024, even after sustaining a concussion in a horse-related incident that caused a brief hiatus, Princess Anne was still recognized for her prolific engagements. As per data analyzed last November, she participated in 217 engagements that year. Following her recent trip to South Africa, which featured a series of tightly packed activities, she clearly shows no signs of slowing down.

In contrast, other members of the royal family had to adjust their schedules significantly in 2024. King Charles and the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, both reduced their public appearances after making announcements about their health. King Charles, aged 76, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, prompting a hiatus from public engagements until late April, although his treatment is reportedly progressing positively and will continue into 2025.

Meanwhile, Princess Kate, aged 43, took a step back for most of the year after revealing her own cancer diagnosis. In September, she announced the completion of her chemotherapy and recently stated that she is now in remission.

As they both navigate recovery, Kate Middleton is gradually resuming her royal duties, with her first royal event since the announcement of her remission scheduled for January 27—a ceremony commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day.

In her interview, Princess Anne expressed gratitude for her own recovery from her concussion, noting that she feels fortunate to be in good condition. She reflected, “You’re jolly lucky… if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis [of sound mind] and last summer I was very close to not being. Take each day as it comes, they say.” Her comments reveal her deep appreciation for her health and well-being, emphasizing the perspective gained through her experiences.

Source
people.com