Princess Anne at 75 'PLEASE DON'T MAKE A FUSS'

Hold the fanfare! The King's sister had a very different celebration in mind

- Judy Kean

When it came to her 75th birthday celebrations, Princess Anne had one firm request: Don’t make a fuss.

The King’s sister told her family and aides not to make a big deal of her reaching her three-quarters of a century milestone on August 15, noting that she was only interested in marking a birthday with a zero in it, “not the fives”.

Anne, who spent the week of her birthday sailing off the coast of Scotland with husband Sir Tim Laurence, 70, did approve the release of several official photos and a commemorative £5 silver coin, the first to honour her “remarkable lifetime of service”, in recognition of the occasion. And she agreed to one public event - although it was held back in June. That was a charity forum at Buckingham Palace for more than 100 of her patronages.