The Princess Royal carried out her first public engagement on Thursday, since the funeral of her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Monday.
Princess Anne was seen walking behind her mother’s coffin during the procession, and has escorted her body from Balmoral to London via Edinburgh.
Anne carried out her first engagement since her mother’s funeral. (Royal Family).
The first stop for Anne was a visit to Portsmouth Naval Base, where she met with the Royal Navy personnel who took part in the procession.
As Commodore-in-Chief of HMNB Portsmouth, Her Royal Highness also met those involved in the ceremony, which saw Her Majesty laid to her final resting place in Windsor.
The Princess Royal met sailors involved in the procession on Monday. (Royal Family).
Leading Engineering Technician (LET) Benjamin Tetley was one of 142 sailors responsible for pulling the gun carriage during the State Funeral. He said: ‘It was an honour to meet Her Royal Highness Princess Anne. It was a lovely personal touch that she came down in person to thank personnel involved. I was really honoured to be involved in carrying the gun carriage, I don’t think there’s a more personal part to have played.’
‘Everyone had a sense of purpose and put all their effort in. The Royal Navy is steeped in tradition and we helped upkeep that. To be part of that history and tradition is truly an honour.’
LET Tim Lavender, based at HMS Sultan in nearby Gosport, managed a team of nine sailors working on the gun crew management. He said: ‘I felt very honoured. If you put the Royal Navy and us sailors under pressure, we come together and we get the job done.’
HRH also visited Aldershot to thank soldiers for all their efforts. (Royal Family).
More than 1,000 sailors and Royal Marines were on duty during the Queen’s funeral, alongside RAF and British Army personnel.
In her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps and Royal Corps of Signals, The Princess Royal also travelled to Aldershot to meet personnel from across the Corps at St Omer Barracks. The personnel played a key role in providing logistical support for the funeral and other associated ceremonial duties.
Anne viewed flowers outside Balmoral. (Royal Family).
The Queen’s only daughter played a prominent role within the family since the passing of the late Monarch was announced. She viewed tributes outside the gates of Balmoral, alongside members of the Royal Family, including her two children, Peter and Zara.
Anne accompanied her mother’s coffin back to London from Scotland, where she issued a statement and said it was an ‘honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys’.
The Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence also visited Glasgow, where they met representatives from the Queen’s Patronages. Princess Anne viewed floral tributes at the City Chambers, where a book of condolence has been left for the late Queen.
HRH also stood vigil at her mother’s coffin in Scotland but also in London, where her siblings also present.
