Vofficial journeys, inaugurations, speeches, commemorations … Each year, the members of the Windsor are subject to a very precise calendar, regulated by Buckingham, to ensure obligations in the service of the Crown: an official service which justifies their pension, restores the family crest and maintains the link with the subjects of the kingdom. And in this game, it is Princess Anne, 71, who wins the prize for the best element of the clan. According to Daily Mail, the daughter of the Queen of England has assumed no less than 387 official commitments in 2021, just ahead of Prince Charles, who has endorsed 385. They are followed by William with 235 missions over the year, Prince Edward, younger of the Queen, with 204 official obligations and of his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex (194 alone).
As for Queen Elizabeth II, there is no question of retiring, despite her successful 95 years. The sovereign has in fact made 184 commitments last year, despite the pandemic, the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his health problems from the fall – a figure below that of 2019, where it had assumed 295 missions over the year. The majority of the work consisted of working by phone or video link, which allowed her to remain cloistered within the grounds of Windsor Castle, safe from the virus. But we saw her all the same taking part in the G7 summit in June, then chairing a large reception on the occasion of the Global Investment Summit in Windsor, which brought together bosses and leaders of all stripes to promote British excellence.
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Anne and Charles are regularly at the top of the most active members of the Windsors. The heir to the throne has even overtaken his sister in recent years, in 2019 and 2020, according to the official count. Two years ago, the eldest son of the sovereign had thus ensured 521 engagements against 506 for his sister, which sometimes represents two official missions per day – it happens to Prince Charles to change clothes eight times during the day in function of his appointments. With his mother’s consent, he took on more and more responsibilities in connection with his future role as monarch.
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Anne, the work addict
As for Princess Anne, discreet but efficient, she remains an essential pivot of the House of Windsor, always ready to represent the crown at masses, inaugurations, museum visits or official ceremonies. Chancellor of several British universities, she represents more than 300 associations, charities and military regiments – she is notably Admiral of the Royal Navy and Commander-in-Chief of Women of the Royal Navy. Charles’s sister has also been a huge support this year to the Queen following the death of Prince Philip, showing up by her side on several field visits. As her daughter Zara sums it up in a recent documentary: “Have you ever asked her to slow down? Good luck ! “
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The hard core of Windsor is not about to ease off: the defection of the Sussexes, who went into exile in California, increased the workload of the members of the clan who remained with the sovereign a little more. Without forgetting the withdrawal of Prince Andrew from official ceremonies, a real scarecrow since his quarrels with the Epstein affair … To strengthen the teams, in addition to the increasingly solid commitment of William and Kate, the queen has emerged from the closet her son Edward, too happy to be back in the spotlight with his wife Sophie. Over the past two years, the Wessex have thus become very active members of the Crown. It fits perfectly: Sophie gets on well with Kate Middleton, she has the Queen’s confidence and started her career in public relations …
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