Princess Anne is very close to King Charles. Anne functions as the family’s “rock” – she was and is the steady hand for both of her parents, and she likely has the same relationship with Charles. An advisor, someone discreet and no-nonsense, someone he can depend on even if she disagrees with him. Anne hasn’t even made her feelings known about all of this “Queen Camilla’s victory lap” bullsh-t. Well, the king is giving his only sister a special position at the coronation, that of Gold Stick-in-Waiting. It is apparently a huge honor.
Princess Anne is to be given a starring role front and centre at the Coronation in honour of her years of loyalty to King Charles. The Princess Royal will be Charles’s “official bodyguard” as the royals make their way back to Buckingham Palace in the Coronation Procession.
The Daily Mirror reported that Anne’s official role will be that of “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting”, a position which historically ensures the monarch’s safety and as such must be given to someone trusted.
Following the crowning of King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 6 at Westminster Abbey the new monarchs will make their way back to the Palace in the Gold State Coach. Princess Anne will travel on horseback behind them leading the larger procession, which will feature 6,000 military personnel. The custom dates back several hundred years to Tudor times, when a Gold Stick and a Silver Stick were appointed to keep close to the sovereign and protect them from danger.
According to royal sources, the Princess Royal was “incredibly honoured” to be given the role, with the King delivering the news to her personally. The siblings are known to be close, with Charles often relying on his little sister for advice as he admires her “no nonsense attitude”.
A source from the palace said: “The direction of the King’s decision is clear for all to see. He is rewarding the Princess Royal for her loyalty and her unwavering devotion to duty above all else. The King values his sister as a trusted lieutenant and this is the perfect example of such a relationship.”
It’s nice. I guess. It’s not my hat party and not my king, but I enjoy Anne and Charles’s relationship and I do feel like she’s basically the only one in his life capable of telling him the truth. It also seems like this is how Charles is balancing out the Rise of the Parker Bowleses – making sure that his sister is assured a prominent position. Plus, Anne loves being on horseback and I’m sure it will all look very stately and Medieval. Still, she’ll have to contend with a lot of protesters screaming “Not My King.”
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: King Charles III and Princess Anne, Princess Royal pay their respects in The Palace of Westminster during the procession for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.,Image: 722680064, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: David Ramos / Avalon
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- The body of Queen Elizabeth II is carried to the Palace of Westminster, London followed by His Majesty King Charles III his sons Prince William and Prince Harry as well as Prince Edward, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, September 14 2022. Thousands have turned out to watch the spectacleafter which the former monarch will Lie in State in Westminster Hall. There will be a short service upon the Coffin’s arrival at Westminster Hall, which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.,Image: 722721807, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Tony Kershaw / SWNS / Avalon
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- King Charles, Princess Anne The Princess Royal follows the The coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II carried on a gun carriage as it travels to Westminster Hall where the coffin will be lying in state for four days until the funeral on Monday 19th September – Buckingham Palace, London, England, UK on Wednesday 14 September, 2022.,Image: 722722200, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jules Annan / Avalon
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, King Charles III, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is transported from Westminster Abbey following the funeral service on its journey to its final resting place in Windsor, London, Britain, September 19, 2022.,Image: 724177122, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Marc Aspland The Times/Sunday Times / Avalon
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- HRH Princess Anne, Princess Royal seen at Cheltenham Festival -Day 1 Champion Day, Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, Glos UK,Image: 762776122, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jules Annan / Avalon
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- HRH Princess Anne at Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Gold Cup Day, Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Glos,Image: 763498304, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jules Annan / Avalon
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- HRH Princess Anne at Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Gold Cup Day, Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Glos,Image: 763512688, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Jules Annan / Avalon
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- Ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where Her Majesty will lie in state Featuring: Princess Anne the Princess Royal Where: London, United Kingdom When: 14 Sep 2022 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II held at Westminster Abbey in London. Featuring: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 19 Sep 2022 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**
So Anne is the new Hand of the King?
She always seems to have preferred ceremonial roles where she can be in uniform. I thinks she often aims to avoid the whole media fashion analysis that the women of the family are always subjected to.
As for her being the gold stick in waiting thingy… whatever 🤷🏽♀️. It’s no more stupid than the myriad of pretend medals, golden coaches/thrones/ oil from the Holy Land/a Play School tv presenter from boomers’ childhood years carrying a crown in the name of diversity (??). The whole thing is bat💩 crazy so what’s one more anachronism.
Probably being Phillip’s favorite also plays a role here. She was rewarded for surfacing her more traditionally “masculine” qualities so that’s the side she showed in public. Hence the military cosplay*, horses, etc.
*It’s still stolen valor and that can’t be forgotten.
Does she… does she not know what happens to the Hand of the King?
I mean it’s right up there with Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for Jobs Guaranteed To Go Horribly Wrong…
Anne could go a Dark Brandon route, she’s got ice in her veins and no f-ks left to give. What do you bet she can hector Andrew into compliance – ha! She’s not outranked by Andrew if she’s a modern Hand of the King. And she doesn’t sleep with teddy bears.
Ha! Love you take on it, Jojo! (That’s what people call me too!😂)
Princess Anne was deservedly law ordered for her excellent work ethic. She and her mother were probably the hardest working Royals. of the 20th century. She also had a Family a farm and trained her horses for equestrian work, which she also took part in. She was a busy busy woman. She did not have any time for the flibbertigibbet world of fashions – she was no nonsense in every way right down to her pretty much lifelong hair style. In her younger days, she was spoken of very unkindly about his lack of fashion sense and style. She was not seen as conventionally beautiful as the media thought, a princess ought to be. I think it was very unfair.
But hey, good for her Getting the golden stick. As you say, she loves dressing up in all her regalia and getting on top of a horse. She’ll have a great time.
Celebitchy:
I have to say this is a treat! What is? In the summer I used to have to wait until midnight for the stories to hit Australia. I was limited in how many I could read and respond to, because even though I am a night owl, I still had to get up for work. Now that it’s autumn and the clocks went back, they come down really early like 830 or 9 PM – fantastic!
My goodness will she marry Andrew Parker Bowles and be murdered by William? Could be interesting being the Hand of the King.
Let me guess: Anne is the royal family’s “secret weapon”? I thought that was Kate. No wait, Sophie. No wait, Camilla’s son (can’t be bothered to look up his name). No wait, Louise. No wait, it’s really Anne. Yeah, that’s it.
@Mrs.Krabapple 😂😂😘great comment!
That family has more secret weapons than Saddam Hussein.
^^ And more alleged ‘secret deals’ than will ever be publicly uncovered, eh! 🙄
Meanwhile, kudos to Anne, the tough, duty-bound stalwart, and now Gold-Stick-in-Waiting, who sucks it up, and remains oh so loyal, no matter what her personal thoughts actually are of Camzilla & Chucky, and the WanKs! 🤪
“ Still, she’ll have to contend with a lot of protesters screaming “Not My King.”
Knowing Anne, she’d probably ride up on them and beat them with that gold stick.
Looool
OMG! You win!
Usually she just sends her dogs… maybe she’ll have a pack of them at her heels, hunting for dissenters…
Gold stick in waiting 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. The jokes write themselves. How are you supposed to take this hat party seriously? 🤭
Yeah, I know this stuff is tradition but being a golden stick just sounds funny 😂
Just wait until it’s William’s turn.
I guess it means Anne is stuck inside the golden, gilded cage forevermore! Like it or not, she is duty-bound in her tough-minded loyalty to the Crown. She ain’t complainin’ nor does she suffer fools lightly, nor does she take any prisoners. LOL! She gonna protect her weak excuse for a king, brother regardless of the detrimental consequences of his reign, or of the likely disastrous effects of his and Camzilla’s self-interested behaviors.
I want to be a fly on the wall wherever Pedo is right now. He has to be throwing an epic tantrum that he doesn’t get the gold stick.
Please tell me there is an actual gold stick!
British royal traditions are new to me … is the gold stick pulled out of or shoved into a royal bottom?? (I bet Willy can’t wait for his gold stick!!!)
Well, not my Gold-stick and not my king. By the way, when did Anne earn all those shiny gold medals?
I’ll just leave this here 🙂
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/28/public-support-monarchy-historic-low-poll-reveals
#NotMyKing
Always nice to end the week with a good news story. Thanks!
The reason no one … even the Brits….cares about Charles’s party in his own honor is people are still recovering from a multi month Jubilee, then an over the top royal funeral. Of course they couldn’t care less about a 70-plus year old couple riding around in golden carriages and being anointed, as if anyone believes they have been chosen by God for the roles. And Charles has missed an opportunity to have a public conversation of why the monarchy matters (or does not) for the average Brit. Irrelevant, impotent, boring and sad.
@Pip — Canada thinks it’s a yawnfest too… https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/king-charles-coronation-canadian-weak-support-interest-1.6816980
@Jaded: We do. As part of the Commonwealth, I was never against the Monarchy, but over the decades, and especially with the Queen’s passing, I really can’t see any reason for it to continue. It costs taxpayers so much money to support the lifestyle of a family who, with few exceptions, are entitled, arrogant, and out of touch with today’s values. I think the proverbial straw for me (in losing total respect for the Monarchy) was the way in which the Windsors treated Diana. Their cruelty is absolutely inexcusable and I totally applaud Harry for getting out of that system.
Not apparently, so much KC choice as the fact that she is “Colonel” of the Blues & Royals. The position is apparently held by whoever holds that position and whoever holds the Colonel of Life Guards. The Colonel of the Life Guards is a REAL military person and not just pretend, so, of course, let’s have the one who will dress up and cosplay military. There are also separate gold sticks in Scotland associated with the Royal Company of Archers.
Gold stick in waiting? Silver stick? This is the 21st century. I can’t. I bet Peg wants that gold stick.
He may abscond with it after the ceremonies. 😉😏🫣
@brassyrebel, got a feeling prince PEG is after a new gold stick 🤭🤭, I had to laugh at her being his bodyguard, is that as well as the hundreds of snipers, armed response officers, drone jamming equipment and hundreds more civy dressed police officers mixing with the crowds? Or could she be in place ready to body slam camzilla the moment the bitch reaches for the crown? Anne is VERY unhappy with Charles putting it out that the “consort” part should be dropped and that the dragon lady is now officially to be Queen. I would love for the procesion to start and Anne unfolds a flag saying “, NOT MY QUEEN”.
I mean, tbf, if I wanted a bodyguard for my coronation procession Anne would be my pick. She’s metal. Remember when an armed man tried to abduct her and she told him “not bloody likely” and refused to be kidnapped? And I’ve heard takes enormous pleasure in reminding Andrew that she holds a higher military rank than him (apparently the navy and army LOVE her and can’t stand him.)
In other VERY exciting news to those Brits of a certain age Baroness Floella Benjamin will be carrying the Sceptre with the Dove in the procession. She is a former children’s television presenter and an absolute JOY. As one of what she calls her “playschool babies” I already know this is going to be the best part of the day.
When Anne refused to be kidnapped, her courage benefited by having royal protection, unlike Harry being forced to sue and pay for safety in his homeland.
There was also a convenient bystander, a former boxer Ron Russell, who came to her aid. People act as if she fought off the kidnapper herself. If he hadn’t been there who knows what would have happened despite her giving the kidnapper attitude.
^^ Eh, Anne is smart and courageous. She didn’t give a fying f* about the cowardly pipsqueak of a so-called kidnapper. She correctly assessed his weak, snivelling character and stared his a$$ down (without any help from her ‘thick & wet’ first hubby who was there too, btw). Anne knew she had only to stall for time (and by all means never exit the car), cuz the freakin’ Queen’s calvary would soon show up for the rescue. In the meantime, one of her bodyguards took a bullet on her behalf. Anne was simply born with ice in her veins, and she possesses a secure, outsized sense of self. She’s like her father, through-and-through! If it had been Chuck, he likely would have freaked out before back-up arrived. Just sayin’. 😉
I was just thinking about Anne fighting off the kidnapper. Having her as a body guard is not just a ceremonial role. She is definitely the scrappiest of that generation.
Got a good chuckle 🤭 from this.
The wrong kid has inherited the throne.
Anne is no gem. She (illegally) used Crown Estate funds to fix up her private estate. She lets her adult children live in her taxpayer-funded townhouse in London, as well as living rent-free on her taxpayer-secured estate.
Anne’s the only one to be convicted of criminal charges – for letting her dogs attack a young child in a public park. And she’s in a tax-avoidance scheme to let Peter/Zara inherit Gatcombe without paying any tax.
^^ I don’t think we’re attributing sainthood status to Anne. LOL! She’s part of that Windsor dysfunctional royal cult, and she surely revels in her accustomed entitled status. But heck, she ain’t someone to be fooled with either. She stands her ground and she long ago accepted who she is, and what she was born into. She has simply sucked it up and gotten on with it. Much like her father Philip did, when he was faced with his princely misfortunes in life. There’s no doubt that Anne would be a much better heir to the throne than her weak, ineffectual brother, Charles.
For sure, Anne should have better trained and restrained her dogs or had them put down if they were too vicious to be rehabbed. One of them also killed one of the Queen’s dogs, and was put down afterwards, I believe.
The below retrospective article details what actually happened during the kidnapping attempt. The chauffeur and Anne’s RPO were injured by bullets. The kidnapper tusseled with Anne, while hubby Mark Phillips tried to hold onto her during the tussel. The kidnapper had told Anne to exit the vehicle after he shot the driver and the RPO. Anne stared him down and politely said in her posh accent, “Not bloody likely.” A passerby, Ronnie Russell, attacked and successfully subdued the kidnapper, until police backup arrived.
https://people.com/royals/on-this-day-in-royal-history-princess-anne-survived-a-kidnapping-attempt-with-the-best-one-liner/
The uniforms, wtf, they are a joke all on their own. The more we learn, the more we see, the crazy is unbelievable and never ending with these people.
Can we just talk about the postures in the header photo? Yeesh.
Chuckles with his belly leading the way! Anne at least is slim and trim looking, as you should in uniform!
At least we are spared the sight of Camzilla in a military uniform. When is that coming?
tamra, to give Anne her due, I think after Harry she looks the best in uniform when compared to the brf. It helps that the uniform is taylored. She has good posture.
Charles and Anne seem to love military dress up and acting. 🫤
I know that this is an event that is steeped in tradition, but at this point it really does seem like cosplay. EXPENSIVE cosplay. The public needs a figure in pounds as to the cost of this event since they are paying for it. The pomp in the face of austerity measures for Charles’s subjects in recent years-I’m not up to date on the British economy, but I know it took a hit from Brexit as well as from the 2008 international downturn-is absolutely tone deaf.
I do know that the Brits love their tradition, but a cost cutting measure here and there during the ceremony would send a positive message. I notice that he’s happy to pull the financial rug out from under the rest of his family , but not when it comes to him.
Oh, and all bets are off as to whether we will see much of the protesters. The London Metropolitan Police will find a place to hide them.
Andrew Parker Bowles was named silver stick in waiting.
Really? So does that mean he’s Camilla’s bodyguard and Anne is Charles’ bodyguard? 😉 The coronation sounds like a proper soap opera episode…. The RF soap opera been going on for so many years it brings to mind “Young and the Restless”. 😂
Oh you are KIDDING me…. lmao I hope there’s going to be a future season of the Crown covering this, because those four together? Is going to be hilarious.
Hee Hee. Soooo: after the coronation, Anne and Andrew P-B can celebrate by rubbing their two sticks together? The awful jokes just write themselves. This awkwardly odd romantic history laden pageantry is seriously bringing out my inner snickering 9 year old self. If MAD magazine still exists — or something that similarly champions pre-adolescent humor— I can’t wait to see their take on this.
Oh, gad, you got me with that one! Apparently I’ve regressed as well! ;-). And I loved MAD magazine.
Well the talk is she’s been stepping out on Tim for years with her first love – Andrew Parker-Bowles.
I wonder if Anne is happy about this announcement, or if she’s mad as hell at Charles. Does this mean she’ll have to curtsy to Camilla publicly in a church? She’s avoided curtsying to her thus far in public. If hidden in the royal crowd during Con-A-Thon, she might have been able to skip/fake it. I think that’s why she was suspiciously absent from group activities in the past few months.
That was decades ago, for QEII, and only for a handful of years. Has Charles renamed him as such?
Is there also a bronze stick? How about a glass stick? A swizzle stick? Stick in the mud?
From Princess Royal to having to curtsey to Queen Camilla. Should I say well done Anne.
This means nothing to me really but means a lot to these people so uh congrats to Anne
I think they feel validated when the dress up and act in those made up roles. She’s 70+ years old and will be bodyguard protecting the king. 😂 No military or law enforcement training. 🤭. Wonder if she’ll receive a BAFTA award for her performance. 🤔
I do want to see if she’ll leap in front of a flying egg to save her brother. Probably the only thing that would get me to watch any of the Chubbly coverage.
@Pinkasaurus, thats what I instantly pictured, Anne wielding a golden stick like a lightsaber, knocking a barrage of eggs away. On the one hand, I like Anne being strong and capable but honestly, I want every egg to hit!
I know there probably won’t be any opportunities for a good egging, but a girl can dream. 🤣🥚💗
A golden stick you say. It is no wonder that Peg wanted to skip Chuckles in becoming king. I’m sure Peg dreams about that golden stick being placed…… well you get the picture.
Ooh, how exciting. I’m sure she’s thrilled that after a lifetime of service and being one of the least problematic members of the family she’s been named a “gold stick.”
Guess that makes Kate a Pyrite Stick in Waiting? (It would be descriptive of her)
Look at that pic of Charles and Anne in uniform.
They are walking dinosaurs in costumes.
The Monarchy is out dated. A drain on the tax payers and nothing more.
Every boring event Anne does, she shows up with a RBF and never removes her gloves or purse. Snooze.
“Gold Stick in Waiting”? Give me strength. Have any of these clowns noticed it’s the 21st century?
So much for those reports that Charles wanted to “modernise” the Coronation ceremony.
I was reading up about the ceremony yesterday and there’s much more of this kind of stuff. Plus Charles will be riding in TWO carriages: because apparently the one he rides on the way there will not do for the way back. Why not? Who knows.
He also has TWO crowns. First the St Edward crown and then it is swapped for the Imperial crown. It’s just all so ludicrous.
I love this stuff! These words, these titles! Gold Stick in Waiting!!! Is there also a Gold Stick??? Is Anne that person’s sub? Is a Gold Stick in Waiting like a deputy assistant to the acting sub-commissioner?
Omg…this thread… I can’t breathe for laughing. I wonder if they have any real awareness of how ridiculous all these things look & sound to normal people.
I’m sure all it would take to pay for this extravagant display is for KC and QC to star in a tampon commercial.
Brilliant marketing! They could at least hire look-a-likes or shoot them from the rear. Unfortunately, those of an age to ‘get’ the joke are probably too old for the product….but there’s always Depends.
Is Monty Python planning this coronation?
Now that would get me to tune in!
Read a list of special coronation roles for various nobles. Positively medieval. I think the only modern thing will be people flying in on airplanes to attend.
I could see why he’d do that. (1) He and Anne go way back. They’ve been together for a very long time. One might even say that they hung out in the nursery together. I’m that, she’s likely his “best friend.” (2) To select someone, would expose that person as well as more of
Charles’ private life. Anne already has a public facing role, so why not this? (3) He and Andrew have a contentious relationship. So, Andrew is out—even if he didn’t have public shame hanging all about him. (4) Charles and Edward don’t seem to have a close relationship. So, for those reasons and more, I can see why Anne was the chosen for this type of ceremonial role. He wants someone he likes and trust at his 6. 🤷🏽♀️
What’s strange is the RF is blowing on how awful Prince Harry and his wife are for strange things yet there is not a word about Edward, Duke of Edinburgh being across Canada as services to the King right now.
It’s a trick! Anne is the only one left who can truly garner affection and respect,since Q11 died.If he puts her outside on a horse behind him and his side piece,then the masses won’t dare boo or holler at Anne.And if they do throw eggs,she’ll be the one to get hit,which will look bad on the protesters.Chuck and side piece are diabolical!
I would love @MaryPester to be some sort of official correspondent she could wear her vet uniform and give live updates on the ceremony. I would pay serious money to see her inside the cathedral at the moment of the crowning! Silence… and then… “Bloody Cockwombles!”
Charles had to wait more than 70 years to be king, Waity Katie waited 10 years for a proposal, so of course Anne has to be ‘in waiting.’ But what exactly is she waiting for? Why can’t she just BE a gold stick?