Princess Anne said retirement “isn’t really an option” for members of the royal family.
The Princess Royal, 74, was asked about potential plans to cut back on royal duties in an interview with the Press Association published on Friday, January 24.
“I don’t think there’s a retirement programme on this particular life,” she said. “It really isn’t written in, no. It isn’t really an option, no, I don’t think so.”
Anne has long been regarded as the “hardest working” member of the British royal family. She completed 217 engagements in 2024 — the most of any royal that year — Daily Mail reported. Her brother, King Charles III, completed 186 engagements while undergoing cancer treatment, per the outlet.
While most senior royals choose not to retire, it is not entirely unheard of —Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Philip, retired in 2017 at the age of 95.
“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement in May 2017. The statement added that he had “full support of The Queen.”
Philip died at the age of 99 on April 9, 2021.
Though several modern European monarchs have abdicated or retired, it isn’t as common for senior members of the British royal family to do so.
The late Queen Elizabeth worked until her death on September 8, 2022. The monarch’s final royal engagement — a meeting with former British Prime Minister Liz Truss — came days before her death at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The Queen was on the throne for more than 70 years, making her the longest serving British monarch. She was 96 at the time of her death.
Anne accompanied her mother’s coffin from Balmoral as it traveled across the UK to Edinburgh, Scotland and to London, England for funeral proceedings.
“I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys,” the princess said in a statement on September 13, 2022.
“Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting. We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss,” she added.
“We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted. I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of The Monarch,” Anne continued. “To my mother, The Queen, thank you.”
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