Portrait of Princess Anne released ahead of 75th birthday

Buckingham Palace shares a new portrait of Princess Anne taken at Gatcombe Park to mark her 75th birthday.

Portrait of Princess Anne released ahead of 75th birthday

A new portrait of Princess Anne has been released, taken by John Swannell at Gatcombe Park, with the royal wearing a royal blue dress and sapphire earrings. She smiles softly as one hand rests on a windowsill, a relaxed pose that underscores a public image built on steady service rather than spectacle. The palace says the birthday will be private and that Anne plans a sailing trip with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, instead of attending formal events for VJ Day.

Photographer Swannell, who has photographed the princess for more than 25 years, has previously captured major royal moments, including images of Queen Elizabeth, and portraits for Anne’s own milestone years. The release follows other royal image projects this year, including a Windsor Castle state banquet portrait and a separate mint-issued coin honoring Anne. The article notes Anne’s past near-miss with a horse and her recovery, framing the portrait against a narrative of resilience and ongoing public duty.

The portrait landings are part of a long-running strategy to shape how the royal family is seen: steady, charitable, and engaged with public life rather than fixed in ceremonial pomp. Anne’s choice to emphasize charity in public appearances this year reinforces that emphasis. Yet every new image also invites scrutiny about how much of private life is shared and how much weight photographers and courtiers place on certain moods—playful, warm, or strictly composed. The release sits at the intersection of royal tradition and contemporary media culture, where portraits are both personal keepsakes and tools for public messaging.

Highlights

More portraits may follow as the royal calendar marks another milestone year.