Happy Birthday, Your Royal Highness!

In the week of her 73rd birthday, we celebrate the dynamic life of the unique, spirited and dependable Anne, Princess Royal

-  CLAIRE SAUL

Fifty-five years after her first public engagement in her own right, the Princess Royal is still working consistently hard to meet the demands of public duty, showing complete commitment to her causes, while the media spotlight has generally fallen elsewhere.

Regularly rated one of our favourite royals, she is also officially one of the hardest working, having clocked up an impressive 4,693 official engagements over the past decade.

Despite approaching her mid-70s, the princess shows no inclination to put her feet up yet - as we might expect from someone whose beloved late mother set such a high bar for lifelong dedication.

Just as she supported the late queen in her role as Head of State, so she now does her brother King Charles, representing him and our country at events, as well as attending state and ceremonial occasions with other key members of the royal family.

Personally involved with more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments across the UK and overseas, Anne has notably been President of Save the Children UK for over five decades.

She has travelled around the world firstly as its president and then as patron, an enduring relationship which once led to a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

The princess has been involved in the development of important new charities, among them the Carers Trust which supports the nation's army of unpaid carers, and Transaid, an international organisation that helps access to vital services for rural communities in economically developing countries.

She holds high ranking roles or is patron to almost 70 military regiments and associations. No wonder her diary is so full.