SHOW OF SUPPORT - ANNE WILL FIND COMFORT IN FAMILY

ANNE, PRINCESS ROYAL TAKES STRENGTH FROM HER GRANDCHILDREN, A YEAR ON FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DEATH

- REBECCA RUSSELL

The poignant image of Anne, Princess Royal last September escorting her mother’s casket during her solemn final journey from Balmoral to Windsor is one that remains etched on the minds of so many of us. Now, as she celebrates her 73rd birthday, she faces more heartache as the one year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death approaches.

Anne was at the Queen’s bedside when she passed away on 8 September and later said in a statement that she felt “fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life”.

But while her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence will be there to offer his support in these difficult weeks, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond notes that five other individuals will offer immense comfort and distraction: her grandchildren – Savannah, 12, Isla, 11, Mia, nine, Lena, five, and Lucas, two.

“Kids take you out of your world, into a space full of laughter… or tantrums… toys and playtime. Whatever they’re up to, it’s all-consuming, leaving no time to think about how sad you are really feeling,” says Jennie. “They also throw your focus onto the future, instead of dwelling on the past, and I imagine Princess Anne will be taking every chance to be with her grandchildren – as much as she can with her extremely busy work schedule.”

Indeed, as one of the hardest working royals, Princess Anne still regularly carries out more than 500 engagements each year with little fuss or fanfare and Jennie says that her work will also be “a very useful distraction from grief”.