Princess Anne ‘declines’ invitation on royal engagement
Princess Anne has never been one to chase trends, and that reputation stayed firmly intact during a recent royal engagement at St James’s Palace.
The Princess Royal, now 75, was hosting an investiture earlier this week when she met Bhishma Asare, a 34 year old rapper and the founder of Rap Therapy. The initiative uses rap music to help young people explore emotions, creativity, and mental health in a constructive way.
Asare was awarded an MBE for his services to mental health awareness and education. While speaking to HELLO! after the ceremony, he shared a light hearted exchange he had with Anne.
He explained how Rap Therapy encourages children to write about specific emotions and name them directly so they can better understand how they feel. At one point, he jokingly suggested that he could teach the Princess Royal how to rap.
Her response was very on brand. Anne replied that she used to sing but that was as far as it went. She then politely declined, adding that her time was up.
One of the hardest working royals
The investiture was just one of hundreds of engagements carried out by Princess Anne, who continues to rank among the most hardworking members of the royal family.
Last year, Anne was officially named the second hardest working royal, narrowly beaten by her brother King Charles. Despite undergoing ongoing cancer treatment, the King completed more than 500 engagements in 2025.
Anne herself carried out 478 engagements across the year and worked on more days than any other royal. Royal reporter Patricia Treble told The Mirror that while many people assume Anne holds the top spot, Charles actually completed the highest number of engagements overall.
Retirement does not appear to be on Anne’s radar. When asked about slowing down, she previously stated that it is not really an option for her.
A close bond with King Charles
Despite the friendly rivalry over royal workloads, Anne and Charles are known to share a close and affectionate bond. That connection was on full display last Sunday when the royal siblings attended a church service at St Peter’s Church in Sandringham alongside Queen Camilla.
As they greeted each other, Anne was seen kissing her brother on the cheek, with Charles returning the gesture. The brief moment quickly caught the attention of royal fans online.
Social media users described the interaction as warm, genuine, and full of trust. Many commented on how rare and touching it was to see such an open display of affection between senior royals.
For fans, it was another reminder that behind the formality and duty, the Princess Royal and the King remain a close brother and sister.
