Princess Anne Debuts New Hair Look for First Time in 50 Years in 75th Birthday Photo

Princess Anne debuted a new hairstyle for the first time in five decades in a portrait with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, which was released in honor of her upcoming 75th birthday.

Princess Anne is switching up her iconic look.

In a royal portrait released ahead of her 75th birthday, King Charles III’ sister poses alongside her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence—but instead of having her hair styled in her signature bouffant, which she’s rocked over the past five decades, she traded in the voluminous look for an elegant chignon.

Along with the subtle change in hairstyle, the royal also wore a stunning ivory gown with lace detailing on the bodice as well as a cropped jacket and her diamond Festoon Tiara.  Meanwhile, Sir Tim sported a black tuxedo with red cuffs as well as several medals of honor pinned to his chest.

“Special to have taken this official portrait for Princess Anne’s Birthday of HRH and Sir Tim at Windsor Castle,” royal photographer Chris Jackson—who also captured Queen Camilla’s portrait for her 78th birthday—wrote alongside the photo on Instagram. “Happy 75th Birthday!”

The portrait of Princess Anne and Sir Tim, 70, was taken moments before the State Banquet at Windsor Castle—held in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the U.K.—last month, where she first debuted the twisted bun updo.

As for why Anne often opts for a bouffant hairstyle? Well, it’s quick and easy.

“I read an article the other day about Netflix and The Crown, but the actress was talking about how long it took them to do their hair like I did,” Anne said in the 2020 documentary Princess Royal: Anne at 70, noting that Erin Doherty previously revealed it took the show stylist hours to replicate her signature look on camera. “And I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean, it takes me 10 or 15 minutes.”

Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace

After all, Princess Anne—the second child and only daughter to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip—has been quite busy supporting Charles since he ascended the throne following their mother’ death in September 2022.

“We’ve been very lucky,” Anne told CBC News ahead of Charles’ coronation the following year. “My mother was the queen for a very long time. And although you kind of know that this might happen, you don’t really think about it very much—not least of all because the monarchy is about continuity.”

“I think for my brother, you know this is something he’s been waiting for, and he’s probably spent more time thinking about it,” she continued. “For the rest of us, it’s more a question of, OK, we have to shift the way we support, and that’s what we need to do.”

For more recent royal news, keep reading…

Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Peter Phillips Announces Engagement

The son of Princess Anne and her ex-husband Mark Phillips shared that he was engaged to his girlfriend Harriet Sperling on Aug. 1 after more than a year of dating.

“Both families were informed jointly of the announcement,” the couple’s spokesperson said in a statement to Hello! at the time, “and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement.”