Princess Anne, as we know, is an unconventional soul, even on the style front. The sister of King Charles III is rarely seduced by trends, fashions, or labels. Resolute and determined, she lets her own very personal convictions guide her choices, even when those might appear to be unusual.
She proved this when at her mother’s funeral she was spotted with a handbag apparently purchased at the Balmoral Castle gift shop, as well as when she rewears four-decade-old garments from her wardrobe, making them appear new and very current (but how does she do it?).
Her style motto might be “I don’t care,” if her look at May 8’s Buckingham Palace Garden party was any indication. For the party, which was hosted by Prince William and Kate Middleton, she decided to pin on her elegant cream-colored coat a brooch “that speaks for itself.”
King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne at the Garden Party.
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Known as the “stalactite brooch” because of its shape, this generously sized jewel has been shining in the princess’s jewelry box since the day she first said “I do” to her now ex-husband Mark Phillips in 1973, by whom she had children Peter and Zara.
Princess Anne.
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That brooch, a precious assembly of gold and diamonds, has no small symbolic value given that it was a gift from her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for the wedding of her only daughter. It was added to the many priceless gifts the princess received from family and friends for a marriage that ended in 1992, less than two decades later.
Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, 1982.
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It’s a piece of jewelry that is clearly linked to a fundamental moment in the princess’s existence—and it is precisely here that the more unconventional side of Princess Anne emerges. The royal, although she knows very well how every detail, element, and choice will be scrutinized for hidden messages and meanings, attached the famous brooch to her coat then went on her way.
Princess Anne with the Queen Mother, 1980.
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This week was just one example of her decision not to let the jewels remain locked in her jewelry box after the end of her marriage to Phillips. In fact, the king’s sister has worn it many times over the years—from official banquets to Royal Ascot competitions to last year’s Commonwealth Day celebrations—demonstrating that the person who gave it to her has far more value than the occasion for which she received it.
Definitely a nice way to remember a mother who is no longer there, and to release herself from the association with that long-ago wedding day.
Princess Anne, Commonwealth Day 2025.
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First published by Vanity Fair Spain
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