Princess Anne has been crowned the hardest-working royal multiple times in the last few years, but her husband isn’t as well-known as the princess.
But despite the numerous engagements she attends, she tends to stay out of the limelight outside of that, especially in comparison to young royals such as Prince Harry.
As a result, not much about Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, is well known, even though he’s been a part of the royal family for over 30 years.
However, he frequently shows up in support of his wife’s efforts. Timothy was meant to accompany Princess Anne on a two-day royal tour to South Africa. The tour was to start in Cape Town with a visit to a centre for disabled horses, a cause near and dear to the princess’s heart. Unfortunately, the former naval officer has suffered a suspected torn ligament and so was unable to join her on the trip.
In May 2025, the royal couple made history as the first members of the British Royal Family to set foot on the remote peninsula of Little Sark in the Channel Islands. The visit was part of the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Liberation of the Bailiwick of Guernsey from German occupation during World War II.
They arrived by boat and crossed the dramatic La Coupée by horse and carriage to reach Little Sark, where Princess Anne and her husband met with locals and learned about the island’s wartime history. Her presence marked a significant moment for the community, underscoring the Royal Family’s continued commitment to honouring the unique role the Channel Islands played during the war.
The visit comes after a week of celebrations commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe.
Who is Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence?
Timothy James Hamilton Laurence was born on March 1, 1955, in Camberwell, London. Laurence was a distinguished naval officer before his marriage to the Princess, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral.
He also briefly served as a Navigating Officer aboard the royal family’s yacht, the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia. This played out in The Crown’s fifth season.
How did Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence meet?
After serving in the Royal Navy, Timothy became an equerry to The Queen in 1986. It was through this role he presumably met her daughter, Princess Anne. Following that, in 1988 he was chosen to be one of the three personal advisors to Princess Anne’s Charities Trust.
He remains on the board of trustees until today; the longest-serving member.
Are Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence still married?
Anne and Timothy tied the knot on December 12, 1992, in a small and private ceremony held at Crathie Kirk in Scotland. As of May 2025, the couple is still married and has celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary.
How many times did Princess Anne marry?
Princess Anne has married twice in her life. She wed Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. However, the couple separated in 1989 and then divorced in 1992. Anne then remarried in late 1992 to Timothy.
How was Anne able to remarry?
Princess Anne became the second British royal ever to remarry in 1992 (the first was King Henry VIII). How did she pull it off?
Well, at the time, the Church of England forbade remarrying, but the Church of Scotland did not. So Anne and her second husband, Timothy, wed in Scotland.
Obviously, over the years since Anne’s second wedding, the Church and the royal family have become less traditional about divorce and remarrying. Look at King Charles and Queen Camilla!
Did Princess Anne have a baby?
Yes, Princess Anne shares two children with her ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips. The couple welcomed Peter Phillips on November 15, 1977, and Zara Tindall (née Phillips) on May 15, 1981.
Anne and her current husband, Timothy, never had any children. However, he is a supportive stepfather to both Peter and Zara.
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