Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, travelled to the Isle of Wight over the weekend, just weeks before her birthday escape at sea.
The King’s sister and her husband visited the Royal Ocean Racing Club in Cowes to mark the club’s 100th anniversary.
A sailing enthusiast, Princess Anne joined Sir Tim to watch the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race from the Royal Yacht Squadron.
In pictures shared by Wight Hire on an “Isle of Wight What’s On Events” Facebook page, Princess Anne could be seen wearing a cream blazer whilst walking ahead of her husband.
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Princess Anne and husband Timothy Laurence spotted in Isle of Wight before birthday escape (stock picture)
They captioned the post: “Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal , Anne officially started the 100th Rolex Fastnet 2025.
“Red Arrows let out puff of white smoke as they flypast as well. #redarrows#princessanne #fastnet2025 #cowes #isleofwight #wighthire”.
The couple, who live on the Gatcombe Park Estate in Gloucestershire, were also treated to a flypast from the Red Arrows.
Princess Anne, 74, is widely considered the hardest-working member of the Royal Family, carrying out hundreds of engagements each year.
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Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence attended the Bicentenary Celebrations of The Royal Yacht Squadron in 2015
Despite this, she is expected to mark her 75th birthday next month in an understated fashion.
The King’s sister, who turns 75 on August 15, has planned a private sailing trip with Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
According to The Times: “Anne will spend her birthday doing what she does every August, sailing with her husband around western Scotland for about ten days with no staff on board, before joining the King at Balmoral.”
The publication continued: “Being at sea with Laurence, say friends, is her ‘happy place’, and a testament to the strength of their marriage.”
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Princess Anne watching sailing cadets from the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight in 2021
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Princess Anne wants to spend her 75th birthday sailing with her husband
A source close to the Princess told the paper: “It speaks to their relationship. They go every May and August and have done it for years.
“How many couples could go out to sea that often, just the two of them, and still be speaking to each other? She loves it.”
Anne has long shared her late father Prince Philip’s passion for sailing, revealing during a 2021 visit to the Isle of Wight that she began learning the ropes on a Bloodhound yacht.
In an interview with Royal Yachting Association magazine, she explained: “For me it’s important to have time away and sailing really is time away.”
