Palace stuns royal watchers with error in Princess Anne’s birthday tribute
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"Even the most prestigious institutions can make a slip-up—but the world takes notice when it happens at Buckingham Palace.
In honour of Princess Anne’s 75th birthday, the Palace’s official website shared '75 facts' about the Princess Royal.
Yet among the charming anecdotes and royal trivia, one glaring mistake left both royal watchers and the Palace itself red-faced.
The blunder in question? Fact number 14 claimed that Princess Anne had two stepchildren, Tom and Amy Laurence, from her marriage to Sir Timothy Laurence.
In reality, Sir Tim had never been married before Anne, and he doesn’t have any children of his own.
From her first marriage to Mark Phillips, Princess Anne’s only children are Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall. The couple divorced in 1992, the same year Anne married Sir Tim.
The error was quickly spotted by eagle-eyed royal fans and swiftly removed from the website, but not before it sparked a flurry of online chatter.
It’s believed the mistake may have originated from a previous article in Woman & Home magazine, and there’s even speculation that artificial intelligence may have played a role in the mix-up.
However, a Palace source insisted, 'There was no AI sourcing on our part,' and explained that the fact was a late addition from a 'reputable publication' that unfortunately skipped the final fact-check.
While the stepchildren saga was a royal faux pas, the rest of the list offered a fascinating look at Princess Anne’s remarkable life and achievements.
Born Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Clarence House on 15 August 1950—VJ Day, no less—she’s been a trailblazer from the start.
Anne was a proud member of the first Buckingham Palace Company of Brownies and Guides, and her commitment to service is legendary.
She’s a patron of more than 400 organisations worldwide and has made an astonishing 562 overseas trips, visiting every continent.
Her military connections are equally impressive, serving as Colonel-in-Chief of over 20 British and Commonwealth regiments.
Did you know Princess Anne was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by the President of Zambia in 1990?
Or that she was the first royal to appear on a TV quiz show (BBC’s 'A Question of Sport') and the first to hold an HGV licence, driving everything from double-decker buses to police vehicles?
She also made history as the first member of the Royal Family to compete in the Olympics, riding for the British Equestrian team at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Despite her milestone birthday, Anne has characteristically shied away from lavish celebrations.
Instead, she chose to mark the occasion by hosting a reception for more than 100 of her charities at Buckingham Palace.
She’s also accepted the honour of a commemorative silver coin, inscribed with 'The Princess Royal. Celebrating 75 years. Duty and devotion.'
True to form, Anne plans to spend her birthday as she always does—sailing around Scotland with her husband for a brief ten-day break before returning to her royal duties.
Her work ethic is legendary; she’s known for resisting any attempts by her aides to schedule downtime, and she’s made it clear she has no plans to retire until well into her tenth decade, following in the footsteps of her late father, Prince Philip.
Even a serious injury last year—when she was reportedly kicked in the head by a horse—couldn’t keep her down for long.
After a stint in intensive care, she was back to her royal engagements within weeks, proving once again that she’s one of the most resilient members of the Royal Family.
The royal family has been in the headlines for more than just Anne’s birthday.
Her son, Peter Phillips, recently announced his engagement to NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling, adding another happy chapter to the family’s story.
Meanwhile, royal watchers speculate that Anne could play a key role in any future peace talks between King Charles and Prince Harry.
As someone who’s navigated the challenges of being a 'spare' in the royal hierarchy, Anne is said to have plenty of wisdom to share with her nephew.
Princess Anne’s no-nonsense approach, tireless work ethic, and dedication to charity have made her one of the most respected royals, both at home and abroad.
While the Palace’s fact-checking may have faltered, there’s no mistaking the impact Anne has had over her 75 years.
Have you ever spotted a funny or embarrassing mistake in an official document or website? And what’s your favourite fact about Princess Anne? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
Read more: King Charles reveals concern over Princess Anne's alarming incident that led to hospitalisation
In honour of Princess Anne’s 75th birthday, the Palace’s official website shared '75 facts' about the Princess Royal.
Yet among the charming anecdotes and royal trivia, one glaring mistake left both royal watchers and the Palace itself red-faced.
The blunder in question? Fact number 14 claimed that Princess Anne had two stepchildren, Tom and Amy Laurence, from her marriage to Sir Timothy Laurence.
In reality, Sir Tim had never been married before Anne, and he doesn’t have any children of his own.
From her first marriage to Mark Phillips, Princess Anne’s only children are Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall. The couple divorced in 1992, the same year Anne married Sir Tim.
Buckingham Palace apologised after a birthday fact list for Princess Anne mistakenly claimed her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, had two children. Credit: Facebook
The error was quickly spotted by eagle-eyed royal fans and swiftly removed from the website, but not before it sparked a flurry of online chatter.
It’s believed the mistake may have originated from a previous article in Woman & Home magazine, and there’s even speculation that artificial intelligence may have played a role in the mix-up.
However, a Palace source insisted, 'There was no AI sourcing on our part,' and explained that the fact was a late addition from a 'reputable publication' that unfortunately skipped the final fact-check.
While the stepchildren saga was a royal faux pas, the rest of the list offered a fascinating look at Princess Anne’s remarkable life and achievements.
Born Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Clarence House on 15 August 1950—VJ Day, no less—she’s been a trailblazer from the start.
Anne was a proud member of the first Buckingham Palace Company of Brownies and Guides, and her commitment to service is legendary.
She’s a patron of more than 400 organisations worldwide and has made an astonishing 562 overseas trips, visiting every continent.
Her military connections are equally impressive, serving as Colonel-in-Chief of over 20 British and Commonwealth regiments.
Did you know Princess Anne was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by the President of Zambia in 1990?
Or that she was the first royal to appear on a TV quiz show (BBC’s 'A Question of Sport') and the first to hold an HGV licence, driving everything from double-decker buses to police vehicles?
She also made history as the first member of the Royal Family to compete in the Olympics, riding for the British Equestrian team at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Despite her milestone birthday, Anne has characteristically shied away from lavish celebrations.
Instead, she chose to mark the occasion by hosting a reception for more than 100 of her charities at Buckingham Palace.
She’s also accepted the honour of a commemorative silver coin, inscribed with 'The Princess Royal. Celebrating 75 years. Duty and devotion.'
True to form, Anne plans to spend her birthday as she always does—sailing around Scotland with her husband for a brief ten-day break before returning to her royal duties.
Her work ethic is legendary; she’s known for resisting any attempts by her aides to schedule downtime, and she’s made it clear she has no plans to retire until well into her tenth decade, following in the footsteps of her late father, Prince Philip.
Even a serious injury last year—when she was reportedly kicked in the head by a horse—couldn’t keep her down for long.
After a stint in intensive care, she was back to her royal engagements within weeks, proving once again that she’s one of the most resilient members of the Royal Family.
The royal family has been in the headlines for more than just Anne’s birthday.
Her son, Peter Phillips, recently announced his engagement to NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling, adding another happy chapter to the family’s story.
As someone who’s navigated the challenges of being a 'spare' in the royal hierarchy, Anne is said to have plenty of wisdom to share with her nephew.
Princess Anne’s no-nonsense approach, tireless work ethic, and dedication to charity have made her one of the most respected royals, both at home and abroad.
While the Palace’s fact-checking may have faltered, there’s no mistaking the impact Anne has had over her 75 years.
Read more: King Charles reveals concern over Princess Anne's alarming incident that led to hospitalisation
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