Princess Anne showcased her diplomatic dressing during a poignant three-day visit to Greece over the weekend to commemorate 85 years since the Battle of Crete. The Princess Royal, 75, was a vision in blue and white on Friday as she arrived at the Presidential Mansion in Athens to meet with President Konstantinos Tasoulas as part of her role as President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Anne honoured the colours of the Greek flag with a striking blue A-line dress and smart cropped jacket with elegant white gloves and shoes. Pinned to her elegant jacket was her historic 12-diamond Gold Ribbon Brooch, which Anne was first seen wearing in February 1969 and has since become a staple part of her wardrobe.
Anne's diplomatic dressing not only reinforces the long-standing ties between the UK and Greece but also her own personal connection to the country, with her father, the late Prince Philip, born in Corfu. During her meeting with President Tasoulas at the building which once functioned as the Royal Palace, Anne emphasised that the commemorations were 'very significant' for both the UK and Greece.
Following her meeting with the Greek President, Anne then travelled to Crete where she visited Chania, Souda Bay and Maleme – all places deeply intertwined with the island's history and the events of 1941. On Saturday, she attended a memorial service at the Souda Bay Allied War Cemetery in Chania to honour the Allied forces during the historic battle, with the Princess Royal captured laying a wreath as a mark of respect.
There, she addressed the congregation before meeting with descendants of Cretan resistance fighters and Allied veterans. Making a statement with a stylish red jacket and white pearl earrings, Anne spoke with guests during a reception held at the Grand Arsenal Conference Centre in Chania and later visited Souda Bay Cemetery to pay her respects to the fallen.
Later, she swapped her red jacket for a brown shade as she attended a remembrance service at the Royal Air Force Memorial Maleme in Crete and toured the site with Commander Air Wing, Group Captain Andy McIntyre. To conclude her three-day Greek visit, the royal attended the Civic Flag Parade and Royal Air Force display.
Subtly reflecting her commitment to diplomatic dressing and to echo the colours of the Greek flag, Anne opted for a blue and white floral dress with a dark blue jacket and belt. Pairing her stylish look with a suitable set of sunglasses for the scorching sun, Anne and Sir Tim were all smiles as they enjoyed the display, before touring the Firkas Fortress and Maritime Museum of Crete to learn more about the nation's history.
The Battle of Crete saw British, Greek, Australian and New Zealand forces defend the island for 11 days before German invasion and resulted in 6,500 casualties, including 4,500 killed or missing. Anne's Greek visit comes amid an incredibly busy time for the hard-working princess, who is expected to play a 'pivotal' role in keeping The Firm afloat amid the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
As the Royal Family navigate the scandal, they will be looking to their down-to-earth and hardworking 'trump card' – the Princess Royal, 75, who is 'synonymous with dedication to duty', said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. Mr Fitzwilliams previously told the Daily Mail: 'She relishes a high workload and usually undertakes the most royal engagements of any royal. However, she prefers to avoid the media circus that follows the most high-profile royals. She is absolutely pivotal in keeping public support for the monarchy.'
The royal expert added that a wise and insightful Anne may likely be able to assist her brother, King Charles, with his handling of the crisis. He explained: 'What Anne can offer King Charles, who reportedly has been under pressure from William over his handling of this crisis, is down to earth advice.' Mr Fitzwilliams noted that the royal siblings may 'not always agree', but says that in such unprecedented circumstances 'it is pivotal that Charles listens to views which differ or are opposed to his own'.
Over the course of the last few weeks, the stoic Princess Royal has routinely maintained a brave face – while also delighting royal fans with her quick wit and humble nature during her public engagements. And as calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to do 'the decent thing' and remove himself from the royal line of succession mount, one may begin to question where Anne could fall amid a possible royal restructure. As Mr Fitzwilliams noted, the Princess Royal is currently 18th to the throne, given that the altered rules of succession in 2013 'unfortunately were not applied retroactively'. 'If they had been she would have been 5th behind William and his family and the public would undoubtedly welcome that,' he explained.
Yet the public's insatiable love for Anne has certainly shown little sign of wavering, with royal fans often taking to social media to praise the 'humble' and 'class act' princess. According to Mr Fitzwilliams, Anne's 'no-nonsense approach' is her essential attribute that has truly captivated royal fans. He explained: 'She relishes a high workload and usually undertakes the most royal engagements of any royal. However, she prefers to avoid the media circus that follows the most high-profile royals.'
