Princess Anne looked ready for business in an army green suit today as she visited a Gurkha regiment at the Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire.
The Princess Royal, 74, received a traditional Mala – or flower garland – from the Nepali soldiers, viewed a bust of herself made from icing sugar and cut a celebration cake with a large kukri, the national weapon of Nepal.
Princess Anne, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps – the branch of the British Army that supports the activities of the UK military around the world – wore a khaki coloured, checked skirt suit for the outing.
Adorned with a small gold brooch, the jacket had a subtle red check and bright red buttons, which matched the Princess’s crimson scarf, while the skirt fell just below the knee.
The mother of Zara Tindall, 43, and Peter Phillips, 46, teamed her suit with a pair of patent, block-heel shoes embellished with a silver horsebit.
Princess Anne (pictured) visited the Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire. She was shown around by commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Allen (right)
The Princess Royal, 74, received a traditional Mala- or flower garland – during her visit, which she wore around her neck
Princess Anne also cut a huge celebration cake with a large kurki – the traditional knife used by the Gurkhas
She was first pictured in the tailored green suit in November 2023 when she visited the Citizens Advice Bureau in Malvern, Worcestershire.
As on that occasion, the Princess wore her hair brushed back today, completing her look with a pair of gold stud earrings.
Princess Anne carried a colourful bouquet of flowers as she was shown around by Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Allen and later donned a sumptuous Mala made of yellow and green flowers.
She met with multiple members of the Gurkha Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) Support Battalion, including the chefs responsible for creating an icing sugar bust of the royal.
The talented chefs had also carved a portrait of Princess Anne from a watermelon.
Following in the footsteps of her late mother Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Camilla, Princess Anne beamed as she cut a huge celebration cake with a large kurki – the traditional knife used by the Gurkhas.
Last Thursday, the Princess Royal paid her respects to two unidentified World War I soldiers who were buried in a cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle.
Gun salutes sounded out as the two brave British soldiers were laid to rest in northern France over a century after they were killed in the bloody conflict in 1915.
The royal met with a chef from the regiment, who presented a bust of her made from icing sugar
The talented chefs had also carved a portrait of Princess Anne from a watermelon
Princess Anna wore an army green, checked skirt suit for her outing today
She met with multiple members of the Gurkha Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) Support Battalion
Their burials marked the inauguration – which was led by Princess Anne – of an extension at the Loos British Cemetery, as fallen soldiers from the bloody conflict continue to be discovered.
Calamitous battles played out in the area, which is located 25 miles south of the city of Lille.
Princess Anne, who is the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), stood before the two coffins, wearing a dark green coat coupled with a scarf emblazoned with poppies, signalling her respects to the fallen countrymen.
Little is known about the two men, who were buried alongside 46 unknown soldiers – only the Scottish regiments they served in.
Unit Head of the CWGC Stephan Naji said there is ‘very little chance’ of identifying the pair.
A message on their gravestones read: ‘A soldier of the Great War – Known unto God’, a phrase coined by writer Rudyard Kipling.
The soldiers were carried to the 1,200-plot extension to the cemetery by Scottish soldiers donning traditional kilts and horsehair sporran belt pouches.
Princess Anne is pictured inspecting the honour guard – the members of the regiment who perform ceremonial duties
Princess Anne, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps, beamed as she explored the site
She wore a red scarf with her suit, which perfectly complemented its red buttons and subtle red check
The royal accerssorised her outfit with a pair of gold stud earrings and a small gold brooch
They were honoured with three volleys of gunfire as well as a member of Scotland’s Black Watch regiment playing a bagpipe.
‘It’s a tremendous sacrifice that these men, women, fathers, gave to us. It’s a great honour to be here and to be a part of that,’ said Private Chalmers of the Black Watch, who gave only his family name.
He continued that war cemeteries similar to Loos allow people to ‘remember these great men’.
Bodies from World War I battles are regularly unearthed across much of northern France where hundreds of thousands of soldiers died.
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