Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, has led a fascinating life in the public sphere. Over the decades she has taken on numerous royal functions and patronages.
However, there remains much curiosity surrounding Anne’s personal life and romantic relationships.
The Princess Royal was married twice, both times to very distinguished men.
Princess Anne’s First Marriage
Anne’s first marriage was to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. Their royal wedding was a fairytale event, broadcast worldwide and attended by dignitaries and heads of state.
The story began when Anne, an expert horsewoman, met accomplished equestrian and Olympic medalist Mark Phillips.
Anne and Mark’s wedding at Westminster Abbey was quite a spectacle. The bride dazzled in a Tudor-style gown and Queen Mary’s Russian Fringe tiara. The groom wore military attire. It looked like a perfect royal marriage.
However, cracks soon appeared behind the scenes. Both maintained extramarital affairs during the marriage.
Their relationship was strained under intense media scrutiny and the pressures of public life. Anne and Mark separated in 1989 and finalized their divorce in April 1992, the first divorce of a British princess in centuries.
Despite the failure of their marriage, Anne and Mark maintained an amicable relationship and became parents to their two children, Peter and Zara. Their divorce shocked Britain but did not prevent Anne from performing her royal duties.
Princess Anne’s Second Marriage
Surprisingly, Anne’s first divorce was quickly followed by a second marriage. In May 1992, just weeks after her divorce, Anne’s engagement to Timothy Laurence was announced.
Anne and Laurence, a British naval officer, had formed a close friendship during the latter’s tenure as the Queen’s bursar in the late 1980s.
Their relationship blossomed into romance, hidden from public view. Love letters revealed years later revealed their deep affection for each other.
On December 12, 1992, Anne married Laurence in an intimate Scottish ceremony. With only 30 guests, it starkly contrasted her first major royal wedding.
The private nature of the marriage reflected Anne’s character and her desire for normalcy amid royal pressures.
Laurence retired from the Navy in 2010 after a brilliant naval career. He continues to support Anne in her royal duties discreetly.
The couple resides at St James’s Palace and Gatcombe Park, enjoying country life together. In 2022, Anne and Laurence celebrated 30 years of marriage.
Anne and Laurence’s marriage has weathered many storms, including media intrusions and scandals. But they have weathered the ups and downs hand-in-hand, keeping their relationship largely private.
While Anne fulfills hundreds of royal engagements each year, Laurence remains her anchor. Their shared love of horses and country life has kept their romance alive.
Despite the failure of her first royal marriage, Anne found new love with Laurence. Three decades later, their devotion to each other is still evident.
So the answer to the question “Who is Princess Anne married to?” is clear. She remains happily married to her longtime love, Sir Timothy Laurence.