THE PRINCESS ROYAL AT 75

We mark the milestone birthday of the King's only sister with a celebration of her wit, wisdom and no-nonsense style

- JACKIE BROWN

‘I THINK I’M A BIT BETTER-LOOKING THAN SHE IS’

Her reply to a member of the public who, not recognizing her in casual clothes at a riding event, said, ‘You look just like Princess Anne’

Famously practical and down-to-earth, Princess Anne was determined to make as little fuss as possible about her 75th birthday – to no one's surprise.

Rejecting the idea of a grand party, the Princess Royal told aides she was only interested in celebrating birthdays with a zero in them – “not the fives.” Instead, she spent her birthday on Aug. 15 enjoying a sailing holiday around Scotland's west coast with her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

She did, however, use the attention surrounding the milestone for good. In June, Anne hosted a charity forum at Buckingham Palace for more than 100 of her patronages.

"This personifies what Her Royal Highness cares about," a palace source said. "She didn't want to do anything for her birthday but bring her charities together to hear more about their work and how she can help them."

The princess also agreed to the release of a commemorative silver £5 coin from the Royal Mint – the first to mark her "remarkable lifetime of service." It was simply inscribed with the words "The Princess Royal. Celebrating 75 years. Duty and devotion."

On a visit to South Africa in the run-up to her big day, she gave a rare interview reflecting on her serious accident the previous summer, when she was kicked in the head by a horse at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. "Take every day as it comes," said the royal mom of two and grandmother of five. "You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really."