Hardest-working royal Princess Anne's blunt response to retirement plans

Sharnaz Shahid

25 January 2025 at 1:55 am·3-min read

Princess Anne head shot — Princess Anne attends QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse (Getty)

Princess Anne has given royal watchers into her future plans, admitting retirement "isn't really an option" for her.

The royal, regularly dubbed the hardest working royal, completed the royal family's first foreign tour of the year – a visit to South Africa – when she described how stepping down from her role was not a consideration.

Princess Anne in a brown coat — Princess Anne is set to turn 75 this year (Getty Images)

Her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, did retire from royal duties in 2017, but he was 96 when he took the decision and had supported Queen Elizabeth II for more than 65 years at the time.

Retirement plans

After a whirlwind two-day tour of Cape Town that ended on Wednesday, the King's sister was asked about her future and whether retirement was an option and replied: "It really isn't written in, no. It isn't really an option, no, I don't think so."

Princess Anne wearing white trousers bending down to look at flowers — Princess Anne was in South Africa this week (Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Anne is known for her busy work schedule and as she approaches her 75th birthday in August, the royal will likely lead the monarchy in the number of engagements carried out.

Royal duty

During her Cape Town visit Anne laid a wreath at a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial, the first to recognise the sacrifices of black South Africans and other races who died working as First World War labourers helping Britain’s war effort in east and south-west Africa.

She performed the task as CWGC president, a role that had been carried out by the Duke of Kent, 89, since 1970 with Anne taking over in 2023 due to his advancing years.

The Princess added: "I'm very lucky to take on from the Duke of Kent the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, but he's been doing that for a very long time, he did it very well and has covered the globe in support of them.

Anne during her visit to the British High Commission Residence garden in Pretoria (PA Images via Getty Images)

"And I'm perfectly certain he was really reluctant to give that up, but in the end he felt physically that he couldn't travel as much, and he couldn't be as efficient in supporting – and I was lucky enough to be asked.

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"On the one hand you go for as long as you can, but you have to accept there are some things you can't do anymore, and he did that, and I'm the beneficiary of that which has allowed me to take that on."