Princess Anne carries out a third of royal engagements so far this year
The Princess Royal has increased her already heavy workload to undertake a third of all royal engagements in 2024 single-handedly after others were forced to step back.
Princess Anne, 73, carried out 172 engagements between January and April 2024 and was on duty for 68 days, almost double the number of any other working royal.
According to an analysis of official events listed in the Court Circular, she carried out 31.4 per cent of all royal engagements in the first third of 2024, followed by the Duke of Edinburgh, who carried 15.3 per cent and the Duchess of Edinburgh on 11.31 per cent.
The King and the Princess of Wales were forced to step back from their public roles to undergo cancer treatment. Prince William also temporarily withdrew from public life to support his wife and their three children.
Princess Anne has not only ploughed on with her packed schedule of charity commitments but has also shouldered foreign state duties that would otherwise have fallen to the King or his heir.
On Jan 16 2024 she attended the funeral of King Constantine of Greece in Athens, days after returning from a royal tour to Sri Lanka.
Then on Feb 23 she was forced to miss her beloved Scotland rugby team’s victory over England in the Six Nations in order to travel to Namibia for the funeral of President Hage Geingob.
Two weeks later, she was in Dubai in her role as president of the Mission to Seafarers.
“She must be so tired,” one aide noted at the time. “She’s picking up all this stuff but someone has to go.”
The Princess is one of only three of the 11 working royals to have upped their engagement tally compared with the first four months of 2023.
Her workload increased by two per cent compared to the same period in 2023.
The Duke of Kent, 88, and the Duke of Gloucester, 79, also took on more engagements
Despite his advanced years, the Duke of Kent undertook 31 engagements over the four-month period, up from 26 in 2023, an increase of 19 per cent.
The Duke of Gloucester carried out 52 engagements during the same period, up from 47 last year, an increase of 11 per cent.
Like the Princess, both men tend to plug away with little fanfare or media attention.
By comparison, Prince William carried out 28 engagements as he juggled work commitments with caring for his family while the Queen carried out 42.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have undertaken 84 and 62 engagements respectively, a decrease on 2023 of 13 per cent for the Duke and 23 per cent for the Duchess.
Overseas engagements such as the Duchess’s recent visit to Ukraine are not included.
The number of royal engagements fell by 25.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2023 and is down 32 per cent on 2019, the last pre-Covid year.
However, the King’s recent return to public duties will ensure a busy summer programme.
From the Chelsea Flower Show to Royal Ascot, the King is hoping to find himself at the heart of the season’s social calendar following a successful response to his treatment.
The relief within his court is almost palpable, although aides insist that engagements will be “adapted where necessary” to minimise any health risks.
The Princess of Wales is likely to remain largely behind closed doors as she continues with her own treatment. However, Kensington Palace has not ruled out the odd appearance should she feel well enough.
The Princess Royal was named the hardest working royal of 2023 after carrying out 457 engagements, just ahead of the King on 425.
The data was collated by Patricia Treble, a Canadian journalist.
