For many years Princess Anne topped the “hardest working royal” list, only being beaten to the top spot last year by her brother, King Charles. And despite being in her eighth decade, the famously no-nonsense royal, 75, generally carries out three to five official engagements a day and rarely takes time off. But not everyone is impressed by her work ethic!
In fact, Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall is so concerned that royal sources tell Woman’s Day she’s “putting her foot down” in a bid to get her mum to slow down a little.
“Anne might still be working like she’s 25 but her daughter has decided enough is enough. She keeps reminding her mother there’s really no need, at her age, to fill her diary every day.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Anne doesn’t agree. As far as Anne’s concerned she’ll work until she’s unable to – just like her mother, Queen Elizabeth.
Daughterly concern
But Zara’s concern comes from seeing what her husband Mike is going through. Last week the former rugby player shared a heartbreaking update on his father Philip’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, revealing he’s “not doing great at the moment”.
In an interview with Hello! Mike revealed two decades of dealing with the disease had taken its toll on his father, who worked as a banker before his diagnosis in 2002.
“Parkinson’s is brutal and there is no let-up from how it attacks the body and changes people,” Mike admitted. “It has quite honestly left him a shell of what he once was.”
According to the royal source, while there was nothing Mike could have done to halt the progressive brain disorder, he still has regrets about not being able to help his father remain fit and healthy.
“This has really shaken Zara. She sees what Parkinson’s is doing to Mike’s family and it’s sparked even more of an urge to keep her mum healthy.
“She’s been supporting him through the tears and the worry, but it’s also made her look at her own mum and dad with more caution.”
Pushing back
Since last September, Anne has been on four royal trips and this week is set to head to Greece for a three-day visit. While there, she will participate in international ceremonies commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, Buckingham Palace has announced.
But Zara also hopes Anne uses the opportunity to take it easy and revive herself a little in the Grecian sun.
“After Anne’s accident in 2024, Zara is hoping her mother has a bit of respite. The air and sea are incredibly reviving. She and her brother, Peter, count their blessings over their mum’s astonishing stamina.
“But seeing Mike’s heartbreak over his father has made Zara more determined than ever to push back on the royal schedule and insist her mum takes a break.”
She has Mike’s full support and if anything the situation has brought them closer than ever.
“Zara’s the only one who can cheer him up if he dwells too long on his dad and he’s the only person who understands the worry she has for her own mum.”
And Zara isn’t the only person concerned about Anne’s heavy workload. Last week a centenarian D-Day veteran who attended the Buckingham Palace garden party offered the princess some unsolicited advice.
“I said to her, you know, she’s got to slow down,” joked Robert Piper, 100, after his meeting with the royal.
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