Princess Anne carries out her duties as a royal stoically and dutifully, and she keeps most things rather private. Ahead of King Charles’ coronation, she sat down with Adrienne Arsenault of the CBC and gave an interview. These interviews are few and far between.
During her conversation with Adrienne, Anne mused about the coronation and her role in it. She does not believe that a slimmed-down monarchy is what is best for the United Kingdom but understands why people are considering it. She made strong arguments for its importance.
Anne understands why at one time it might have been prudent to discuss a smaller monarchy. “I think the slim down was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment,” she explains. Things have since changed. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Andrew are all no longer working royals.
“[The slimmed down monarchy] doesn't sound like a good idea, from where I’m standing, I have to say,” she continues. “I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”
Princess Anne believes in the important work the monarchy does for the country but also understands why people are questioning its relevance in a modern world.
“I think it’s perfectly true that it is a moment where you need to have that discussion,” she argues. “But I would just underline that the monarchy provides, with the constitution, a degree of long-term stability that is actually quite hard to come by any other way.”
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Princess Anne does not know many details about the coronation. King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, and their staff are handling that. Anne does know what part she has to play in the pomp and ceremony of it all as the “Gold Stick in Waiting.” This body guide-like title even comes with its own outfit.
“I have a role as the colonel of the Blues and Royals in the Household Cavalry regiment as the Gold Stick, and Gold Stick was the original clothed protection officer. That is a role I was asked if I would like to do for this coronation, so I said yes, not least of all, it solves my dress problem,” she says.
