The Princess Royal is trying to ’emulate her parents’ resilience and strength by keeping ‘formal and regimented’ – but ‘her grief is clearly taking its toll’, a body language expert has claimed.
Princess Anne, 72, appeared stoic when arriving in London after travelling alongside the Queen’s coffin from Balmoral on Sunday to Edinburgh on Monday, before returning to the British capital today.
Her Majesty’s daughter said it had been ‘an honour and a privilege’ to accompany the monarch on her final journeys in a statement released this evening – in which she told how she was ‘fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life’.
Yet body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Anne ‘seems to be putting herself under pressure to sustain the traditional royal stance of the stiff upper lip’.
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, look on as Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin arrives at RAF Northolt
The Princess Royal (pictured) is trying to ’emulate her parents’ resilience and strength by keeping ‘formal and regimented’ – but ‘her grief is clearly taking its toll’, a body language expert has claimed
Judi said: ‘[Anne is] trying to show strength in mourning in the style of her mother and her father. The memory of her mother sitting isolated but still resilient at Prince Philip’s funeral seems to be a stance Anne is trying to emulate.
‘But the grief is clearly taking its toll, possibly more than for her other siblings who seem to be more open about expressing and sharing their grief and receiving tactile support from those around them.
‘Anne arrived in London with her mother’s coffin and despite having her husband close by there appeared to be no exchanges between them. This could have been deliberate.
‘When someone is trying to show a brave front under extreme emotions it can often be looks or words of kindness and sympathy that can bring on tears.
‘The way she picked up a matching marching step with the RAF woman who greeted her suggested a desire to keep as formal and regimented as possible.’
The expert added: ‘Anne’s face looked even more drawn and the way she kept touching her bag and shoving it under one arm suggested anxiety.
‘At one point she clasped her hands in a steepled gesture of self-control but her thumbs were rubbing against one another in a self-comfort ritual.’
Princess Anne (pictured earlier today in Edinburgh), 72, appeared stoic when arriving in London after travelling alongside the Queen’s coffin from Balmoral on Sunday to Edinburgh on Monday, before returning to the British capital today
Her Majesty’s daughter (pictured centre) said it had been ‘an honour and a privilege’ to accompany the monarch on her final journeys in a statement released this evening – in which she told how she was ‘fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life’
Judi said that it was Anne’s military uniform that ‘probably helped sustain her’ during the ‘Vigil of Princes’ – when she stood vigil by her mother’s coffin alongside her brothers King Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
‘Wearing it would prompt feelings of discipline and self-control,’ said the expert.
Earlier today, the Princess Royal paid tribute to her mother and said it had been ‘an honour and a privilege’ to accompany the Queen on her final journeys as she travelled with the monarch’s coffin back to London.
Princess Anne, the late monarch’s only daughter, told how she was ‘fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life’.
She said the love and respect shown to the Queen on her journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh and onto London had been ‘both humbling and uplifting’.
Anne also thanked the nation for the ‘support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles’ as he takes on his duties as King.
She ended her statement with the words: ‘To my mother, The Queen, thank you.’
Princess Anne’s statement was shared to the Royal Family’s Instagram account along with the above photograph, which was first released to mark the late monarch’s 90th birthday in 2016. The mother and daughter posed on a sofa in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle
Statement: Princess Anne released this statement (pictured) today. She offered her ‘thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss’
The Princess Royal (pictured) paid tribute to her mother and said it had been ‘an honour and a privilege’ to accompany the Queen on her final journeys as she travelled with the monarch’s coffin back to London
Her tribute was shared to the Royal Family’s Instagram account along with a photo of Anne and the Queen, which was first released to mark the late monarch’s 90th birthday in 2016. The mother and daughter posed on a sofa in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle
The princess was in Scotland when the Queen was taken ill, and stayed at her bedside at Balmoral Castle, as senior royals rushed to say their final farewells.
Elizabeth II – the nation’s longest reigning monarch – died peacefully on Thursday September 8.
Anne has taken on the duty of accompanying her mother’s body back to London, with the Queen leaving Scotland for the last time bound for RAF Northolt on Tuesday.
The Queen’s oak coffin, accompanied by Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, travelled to Buckingham Palace where King Charles III, the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be waiting to receive it.
Anne (pictured at RAF Northolt in London) also thanked the nation for the ‘support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles’ as he takes on his duties as King
The royal (pictured with Timothy Laurence, left) was by her mother’s side throughout the last 24-hours of the monarch’s life, and today travelled with her casket from Scotland to London
Also there will be the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, Zara and Mike Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, and Princess Margaret’s children Lady Sarah Chatto and Earl Snowdon.
Anne’s full statement said: ‘I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.
‘Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.
‘We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.
The Princess Royal watches as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is taken to a hearse as it departs St Giles’ Cathedral
Princess Anne, Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence watch as pallbearers carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from St Giles’ Cathedral
The bearer party carry the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to a hearse as they prepare to depart from St Giles Cathedral
Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence arrive at St Giles’ Cathedral
‘We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted.
‘I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of the monarch. To my mother, The Queen, thank you.’
The princess, who was with her mother leading up to her death, has also been beside her in the days since she died.
Last night, Anne made history when she became the first royal woman to take part in the ‘Vigil of Princes’ – standing vigil by her mother’s coffin alongside her brothers King Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
During the 20-minute vigil at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Princess Anne, who wore her navy ceremonial uniform, kept her eyes fixed towards the floor.
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