Princess AnneandSir Timothy Laurence’s marriage has been going strong since 1992.
As far as royal romances go, however, the pair had somewhat of a dramatic start. When they met, Anne was still married toCaptain Mark Phillips, whom shewed in November 1973. Both Phillips and Anne, who share daughterZaraand sonPeter, were rumored to have hadextramarital relationshipsover the years. In 1989, Anne’s romance with Laurence, who was an equerry for her mother,Queen Elizabeth, was exposed when love letters were stolen fromPrincess Royal— and her marriage publicly ended shortly after.
After divorcing Phillips in April 1992, Anne married Laurence in December of that year, and the couple have been going steady ever since. From their scandalous beginnings to their cozy life as grandparents, here’s everything to know about Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence’s relationship.
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1986: Sir Timothy Laurence joins the royal fold and meets Princess Anne
Frederic REGLAIN/Gamma-Rapho
Laurence first entered the royal family’s inner circle in 1986 when he becamean equerry— a personal assistant — for the Queen. Those close to Laurencetold PEOPLEthat he and Anne developed an affection for one another right away.
“Tim never stopped thinking about Princess Anne from soon after their first meeting … Anne has treated him as her closest confidant for some considerable time,” a source told PEOPLE in 1989. “Obviously, Tim and the princess were physically attracted to each other, but their friendship goes deeper than that. Tim has filled a loneliness in her life and given her a shoulder to cry on when she needed someone to tell her troubles to. He understands her tantrums and the bad publicity she attracts. But most of all, he cares for her in the way her husband does not.”
Spring 1988: Princess Anne visits Sir Timothy Laurence when he falls ill
Before their affair was revealed, the princess reportedly visited Laurence when he had shingles, though no one thought much of it at the time.
“The princess was extremely worried about his health and went around to his home to cheer him up,” one of Laurence’s Royal Navy colleagues latertold PEOPLE. “This happened several times, and Tim was grateful for her interest and caring attitude.”
A neighbor observed that Anne brought her young children Peter and Zara with her to visit Laurence.
“There was no attempt to hide the fact that any of them were there,” the neighbor said. “They all seemed to be having a good time.”
September 1988: Princess Anne names Sir Timothy Laurence as an adviser to her charity
Alicia Mink
In September 1988, Anne named Laurence as one of just three advisers toAnne’s Charities Trust. “The appointment just shows Anne’s affection for him,” a source said.
March 1989: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence’s love letters are stolen
Sources claimed that love letters between Laurence and Princess Anne were stolen from her desk or briefcase before the end of March 1989. The letters were reportedly penned over an 18-month period and hand-delivered toBuckingham Palaceinstead of Anne’sGatcombe Park estatein Gloucestershire, England, where she primarily resided with then-husband Phillips.
A source who read the lettersrevealed to PEOPLE, “It’s quite clear that he is potty about her, but they are very boring and ramble on. They are the sort of letters 18- or 19-year-olds write to one another, thoughts about life and rather philosophical.”
A “security” insider told a tabloid in April 1989 of the letters' contents. “The contents are not raunchy and do not suggest any intimacy, but they are written in affectionate terms,” the source said. “If Captain Phillips wanted to know why they were written, the princess would have some answering to do.”
April 1989: The press teases Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence’s letters
Before it was possible to break the internet, Anne and Laurence’s love letter scandalnearly broke the British press.
The Sun, Britain’s largest-selling newspaper at the time, claimed it obtained the stolen letters. Instead of printing their contents — and risking a breach of copyright litigation — the paper ran a story with the headline “PALACE THIEF STEALS ANNE’S LETTERS … SUN TO THE RESCUE” and turned the four letters over toScotland Yard.
When the news broke, Anne and Phillips competed inequestrian competitions150 miles apart. Phillips told reporters, “I know Tim Laurence is an equerry. I left home on Friday and have not spoken to Princess Anne since. I will be ringing home tonight on my car phone to find out what is going on.”
August 15, 1989: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence celebrate her 39th birthday
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Adding further fuel to rumors that Anne and Phillips' marriage was on the rocks,Phillips skippedAnne’s 39th birthday celebration atBalmoral Castlein 1989. Instead, Laurence was on hand to celebrate with the princess.
August 1989: Princess Anne and Mark Phillips announce their separation
While the palace originally said Anne and Phillips had no plans to divorce, the couple announced their separation in August 1989.
When asked about Anne’s separation, Laurencetold reporters, “Of course it has been very difficult. I’m hoping life will be back to normal in a couple of weeks.”
April 1992: Princess Anne and Mark Phillips divorce
Though their separation announcement indicated that Anne and Phillips didn’t intend to pursue a divorce,Anne filed for an uncontested divorcein April 1992.
A former royal stafferlater toldRobert Hardman, author ofQueen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II, that the Queen struggled privately with her children’s divorces. (Prince CharlesandPrince Andrewboth got divorced in 1996.)
“It distressed her much more than she let on,” the staffer recalled. “I said, ‘Ma’am, it seems to be happening everywhere. This is almost common practice.’ But she just said, ‘Three out of four!’ in sheer sadness and exasperation. One shouldn’t underestimate the pain she’s been through.”
May 1992: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence make their public debut
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press
In her typical low-key fashion, Princess Anne subtly announced her relationship with Laurence following her divorce. In May 1992, Laurence and Anneattended the Royal Caledonian Balland were photographed dancing together.
December 12, 1992: Princess Anne marries Sir Timothy Laurence
PA Images
Just a few months after her divorce from Phillips was finalized, Anne and Laurencetied the knoton Dec. 12, 1992.
The couple wed at Balmoral in Scotland with Anne’s children Zara and Peter in tow.Prince Philipwalked the princess down the aisle.According to BBC, Laurence wore his Royal Navy uniform, while Princess Anne wore a “simple white suit.” The nuptials were a small affair, with only about 30 guests in attendance.
2004: Sir Timothy Laurence is appointed a personal aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth
A former equerry to the Queen, Laurence was appointed a new position in 2004. He became apersonal aide-de-camptoQueen Elizabeth, a position that can only be given to members of the royal family who hold military rank.
May 17, 2008: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence attend Peter Phillips' wedding
Peter was Anne’s first child to get married, havingwed Autumn Phillipson May 17, 2008, in Windsor, England. Laurence attended the nuptials with Anne and the rest of the royal family.
However, Peter and Autumn announced theirseparationin 2020 after 12 years of marriage.
July 30, 2011: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence attend Zara Tindall’s wedding
Princess Anne’s daughterZara wed husband Mike Tindallon July 30, 2011, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Princess Royal and Laurence attended the wedding together and were photographed in a car on the Royal Mile following the ceremony.
September 14, 2019: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence have a family day out
August 2020: Sir Timothy Laurence jokes about Princess Anne’s first marriage
“It’s quite amusing that she married first an army officer and then a naval officer. So there must be something about the military that attracts her,” he said.
February 6, 2021: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence share a rare look at their home
December 2021: Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence isolate after he gets COVID-19
Anne and Laurence could not join the Queen forChristmasafterLaurence tested positivefor COVID-19.
Queen Elizabethhad previously canceled theannual royal Christmas celebration, as well as herannual holiday luncheon, as a precaution amid rising cases of theCOVID-19 omicron variantin the U.K.
June 16, 2022: Sir Timothy Laurence joins Princess Anne and Zara Tindall at the Royal Ascot
The princess and her husbandattended the Royal Ascotwith her daughter Zara in June 2022. The mother-daughter duo and Laurence waved to the crowd as they led the carriage procession for the third day of the event.
source: people.com
