Princess Anne is widely regarded as one of the most hard-working royals — and it appears that dedication may be causing tension within the family.
According to a new report from The Sunday Times, the Princess Royal has been left “annoyed” by Prince William’s limited involvement in investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle, despite the fact that he lives just a stone’s throw away.
Anne, 74, reportedly continues to handle the bulk of these official engagements, which involve awarding honours to those recognised in the King’s Honours List. These ceremonies are seen as a major symbol of royal presence and tradition — and they’re traditionally split among senior working royals.
“She’s still doing most of the investitures at Windsor even though William lives there,” a source close to Anne allegedly told the newspaper. “It annoys her.”
While Prince William resides nearby in Adelaide Cottage with Princess Kate and their three children, Princess Anne lives roughly 90 minutes away at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire — making her regular travel to Windsor a notable effort.
Investitures are a key part of royal life and serve as moments of recognition for individuals across Britain for their public service, charity work, or achievements. Senior royals, including King Charles, Princess Anne, and the Prince of Wales, are typically responsible for leading these events.
Despite the supposed frustration, Anne and William still share a strong family bond
Although the reported annoyance suggests a rare moment of discord, those close to the family maintain that Princess Anne and Prince William have a warm relationship.
The two are frequently seen together at major royal events and appear to share a mutual respect — especially when it comes to service and family.
When Princess Anne returned to her duties after a recent horse-riding accident, William and Kate praised her resilience in a public message, calling her a “super trooper” and writing: “So great to see you back so soon! W & C x.”
They’ve also reflected on their shared history. During a light-hearted appearance on Mike Tindall’s podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Anne and William laughed about their childhood races at Balmoral Castle.
“Running around the square at Balmoral — I was really good at that, I did corners really well,” Anne recalled. William replied with a chuckle: “You were quite quick! Also the look that you had on your face was quite terrifying.”
The Princess Royal, who turns 75 next month, is expected to celebrate the milestone with the release of a commemorative coin — another nod to her status as one of the monarchy’s most enduring figures.
While Buckingham Palace has not commented on the reported tension, the story serves as a reminder of the behind-the-scenes dynamics that continue to shape the modern royal family.