After 48 years as their patron, Princess returns for very special celebration with Australia's tech warriors

When Princess Anne steps off the plane in Australia next month, she'll be returning to familiar territory. Not just the continent she's visited more than 20 times, but to reconnect with a military family she's championed for nearly half a century.

The 75-year-old Princess Royal will spend four days across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland from 8-11 November, accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

But this isn't just another royal tour—it's a centenary celebration decades in the making.

A century of keeping Australia connected

The Royal Australian Corps of Signals was officially formed on 14 February 1925, creating a group of technical specialists who provide communications, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities support for the Australian Defence Force (ADF)'s operations around the world.

What began as telegraph operators has evolved into Australia's digital warfare specialists.

More than 100,000 signallers have served in the Corps since the First World War. Today, the Corps has a workforce of approximately 3,000 trained personnel, with an average of 300 personnel joining the Corps each year. Behind these numbers lies a remarkable story of technological evolution.

The Corps' motto, 'Certa Cito' - Swift and Sure—perfectly captures what these modern warriors do. They're responsible for installing, maintaining, and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems.

From the battlefields of Gallipoli to today's cyber warfare capabilities, they ensure Australia's military stays connected.

Four decades of royal dedication

Princess Anne's connection to the Corps began in 1977, making her one of the longest-serving honorary military appointments in the Commonwealth.

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne has been the colonel-in-chief of RASigs since 1977 and of the RACT since 2011.

During her 2022 visit to Holsworthy Barracks, Princess Anne told personnel: 'Your job is so often to look after the other exercises and operations; and it is a fundamental requirement. You have much to look forward to in terms of the technology and the things you do.

But, frankly, it's the people behind the technology that you work with that make it all possible for your corps to be as effective as they are.'

From telegraph to cyber warfare

The transformation Princess Anne has witnessed during her patronage is staggering. When she first became Colonel-in-Chief in 1977, military communications still relied heavily on radio and landline systems.

Today's signallers operate in cyberspace, managing electronic warfare and protecting Australia's digital infrastructure.

Head of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, Brigadier Deane Limmer CSM, explains: 'For more than a century, the corps has been developing and responding to emerging technology, giving the ADF a competitive edge.'

Why Australians love Princess Anne

The Princess Royal's popularity with Australians isn't accidental. During her 2022 visit, there was 'no big entourage, no media rota, no fuss' - exactly the no-nonsense approach that resonates with Australian values.

Her connection to Australia runs deeper than official duties. Her husband's brother lives in Lismore, the Northern NSW town devastated by the 2022 floods—giving the couple a personal understanding of Australian challenges.

During the Easter Show opening, she acknowledged 'the devastation of floods, following the impacts of the global pandemic and the harshness of the most recent drought, and bushfires.'

A family affair spanning generations

There are more than 300,000 family members and descendants of those who have served in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. For many of these families, Princess Anne isn't just a distant royal figure—she's been their patron longer than most have been alive.

As Brigadier Limmer noted: 'For a century, families have supported us and made sacrifices, making this year's celebrations a show of gratitude for their part in serving alongside us.'

What to expect from the November tour

While specific itinerary details remain under wraps, the four-day tour will focus on celebrating the Corps' centenary across three states.

Unlike larger royal tours, this will likely follow Princess Anne's preferred style—practical, focused, and genuinely engaged with the people she meets.

The timing couldn't be more significant. As the Corps reflects on 'the past 100 years of service by the corps to the nation across many theatres in World War 2, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and the many other past and present peacekeeping and humanitarian deployments, including contemporary operations in the Middle East Region,' Princess Anne's presence provides both continuity and recognition.

At 75, the Princess Royal shows no signs of slowing down. She remains one of the hardest-working royals, and her genuine commitment to her military patronages has earned respect across the Commonwealth.

For the signallers and their families, this visit represents the culmination of a century-long journey—and the continuation of a partnership that's outlasted governments, technologies, and even monarchs.

For ordinary Australians, it's a chance to see a royal who truly understands the value of service, both military and public. After 48 years of showing up, Princess Anne's November visit proves that sometimes the strongest bonds are built not through grand gestures, but through quiet, consistent dedication.

Have you had any experiences with the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, or do you remember any of Princess Anne's previous visits to Australia? We'd love to hear your stories and memories in the comments below.