As Princess Anne approaches her milestone 75th birthday, Buckingham Palace has been preparing tributes to celebrate the life and service of one of the royal family’s most hardworking members. But amid the heartfelt messages and vintage videos, a surprising misstep briefly left the palace red-faced.
A Birthday Tribute Gone Wrong
On August 11, the royal family’s social media accounts shared stunning portraits of Princess Anne, honoring her decades of service. Shortly after, Buckingham Palace’s official website followed up with a post highlighting lesser-known facts about her life.
But one so-called fact caused confusion and amusement among royal watchers: the site claimed Anne was a stepmother to two children—Tom and Amy Lawrence.
This surprising revelation baffled readers, as Anne’s husband, Sir Timothy Lawrence, has never been married before nor fathered any children. The couple also has no biological children of their own. The error quickly went viral, sparking questions about how such a blunder had made it onto the palace’s official page.
Embarrassed by the backlash, Buckingham Palace swiftly deleted the post.
Fans and Theories
Royal enthusiasts and social media users wasted no time poking fun at the mix-up. Some wondered if it was a simple oversight by a junior staff member unfamiliar with Anne’s biography, while others speculated that artificial intelligence may have been used to draft the piece.
One amused observer wrote: “Pretty sure this is an error, but how did that happen? If Sir Tim had secret children, that would be the best hidden royal twist ever.”
Another quipped: “Someone must have used ChatGPT and forgot to fact-check.”
Though lighthearted in tone, the incident highlighted a growing frustration among some fans who have noticed mistakes appearing on the royal website in recent years.
Anne’s Quiet Approach to Milestones
Despite the slip-up, Princess Anne herself kept to her usual understated style. Known for her no-nonsense personality, she reportedly asked aides not to make a big fuss over her birthday—consistent with her tradition of only celebrating birthdays ending in zero.
Still, the palace made sure the occasion was marked with affection. On August 14, the royal family’s official Instagram shared a vintage video montage, featuring touching childhood clips of Anne with her parents, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as well as with her brother, now King Charles III.
The video showed intimate family moments, from the Queen Mother beaming at baby Anne to scenes of Charles and Anne playing in the garden together—reminders of their uniquely close sibling bond.
A New Portrait
In addition to the video tribute, Buckingham Palace released a new official portrait of Princess Anne. Taken at her Gatcombe Park estate by photographer John Swannell, the image caught attention for more than its elegance—it revealed the Princess Royal’s first significant hairstyle change in 50 years. Anne, usually known for her signature bouffant, swept her hair into a chic chignon for the glamorous shot, a rare departure from her long-familiar look.
The Bigger Picture
Though the website mishap caused some embarrassment, the birthday tributes emphasized what truly defines Princess Anne: her decades of loyal service, her practical approach to duty, and her quiet but profound role in the royal family.
As one of the monarchy’s most respected figures, Anne has weathered both public scrutiny and palace blunders with grace—and this incident proved no exception.
