When it involves the British Royal Family, we often get swept up in the glitz of younger generations—the Sussexes, the Waleses, the constant tabloid churn. But there's one person who consistently outworks them all while keeping her personal life under a remarkably tight lid. That person is Princess Anne. People are constantly asking, is Princess Anne married, and honestly, the answer is a bit more interesting than a simple yes or no because of how she paved the way for modern royals to handle divorce and remarriage.
She is currently married. Her husband is Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
They've been together for decades. It's a quiet, sturdy kind of marriage that doesn't make the front pages of the Daily Mail every five minutes, which is exactly how Anne likes it. She isn't one for the fluff. If you've ever watched her in interviews, she has this "get on with it" attitude that she applies to her charity work and her relationships. But getting to this point of stability wasn't exactly a straight line.
The Mark Phillips Years: A Royal First
To understand if Princess Anne is married now, you have to look back at 1973. It was a massive deal. She married Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey. This wasn't just another royal wedding; it was a global event with an estimated 500 million people watching. Think about that for a second. In an era before the internet, half a billion people tuned in to see the Queen's only daughter tie the knot with a commoner who happened to be an Olympic gold medalist in equestrianism.
They seemed like a perfect match on paper. Both were obsessed with horses. Anne is an equestrian legend—the first British royal to compete in the Olympics—and Mark was equally elite in the sport. But life isn't a horse show.
By the mid-1980s, the cracks were showing. The press called it "The Foggy Cottage" years because they spent so much time apart. They had two kids, Peter and Zara, who notably don't have royal titles. That was Anne's choice. She wanted them to have as much of a "normal" life as possible, or at least as normal as it gets when your grandma is on the stamps.
The marriage eventually crumbled. It wasn't just one thing. There were rumors, there was distance, and then there was the bombshell news of Mark Phillips fathering a child in New Zealand. They separated in 1989. By 1992—the Queen's infamous annus horribilis—they were officially divorced.
📖 Related: Erik Menendez Height: What Most People Get Wrong
Moving On: Who is Sir Timothy Laurence?
So, how did we get to the current status of is Princess Anne married? Enter Timothy Laurence.
He was a Commander in the Royal Navy and served as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II. An equerry is basically a high-level personal assistant from the armed forces. Because he was in the inner circle, he and Anne crossed paths frequently. The relationship started quietly. It wasn't some scandalous explosion, but rather a slow burn that became public under rather invasive circumstances.
In 1989, The Sun got hold of private letters sent from Timothy to Anne. They didn't publish the content (legal reasons, obviously), but the cat was out of the bag. People knew something was happening.
The Scottish Loophole
The 1992 wedding of Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence was a bit of a rebel move. The Church of England at the time wasn't exactly thrilled about remarriage after divorce. If they wanted to marry in England, they would have faced significant bureaucratic and religious hurdles.
So, they headed north.
They got married at Crathie Kirk, near the Balmoral estate in Scotland. The Church of Scotland views marriage as a civil contract rather than an indissoluble sacrament in the same way, which allowed them to wed without the massive controversy that would have followed a London ceremony. It was small. Private. Only about 30 guests. Anne wore a simple white suit. It was the polar opposite of the Westminster Abbey spectacle.
👉 See also: Old pics of Lady Gaga: Why we’re still obsessed with Stefani Germanotta
Why Their Marriage Works
You rarely see Sir Timothy Laurence in the spotlight. He's there, usually two steps behind Anne at garden parties or official engagements, but he doesn't seek the camera. This is likely why it has lasted over 30 years.
He isn't a "working royal" in the sense that he gets a salary from the Sovereign Grant, but he is a constant fixture. He was even given a special dispensation to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Platinum Jubilee, despite the rule that only working royals should be there. That says a lot about how the late Queen felt about him. He’s the "steady hand."
Common Misconceptions About Her Status
People get confused because she’s the "Princess Royal." Some think that title implies she must be single or that her husband should be a Prince.
- Does Timothy Laurence have a title? He was knighted by the Queen (KCVO), so he is Sir Timothy Laurence. He didn't become a Prince or a Duke.
- Is she still married to Mark Phillips? No, they divorced in 1992. They remain on decent terms for the sake of their grandchildren, though. You’ll often see them at the same horse trials.
- Wait, is she the only one who remarried? In her generation of royals, she was the first to do it. Prince Charles followed much later with Camilla, but Anne broke that ground first.
Life at Gatcombe Park
The couple lives at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. It’s a working farm. If you ever visit the area during the Festival of British Eventing, you might actually see the Princess Royal walking around in wellies, looking like any other country grandmother.
This private life is where the marriage thrives. They share a love for the sea and sailing. While the rest of the world wonders is Princess Anne married, they are usually off on a yacht near the Western Isles of Scotland, completely out of reach of the paparazzi.
The Logistics of Being Married to the Princess Royal
It isn't all quiet sailing, though. Being married to Anne means keeping up with the busiest schedule in the family. Year after year, Anne tops the list for the most official engagements. We are talking 400 to 500 events a year. Timothy often joins her, but he also has his own interests, particularly in naval history and heritage.
✨ Don't miss: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes in 2026
They’ve managed to create a partnership that isn't based on "branding" or "publicity." It's based on duty.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for the Monarchy
As King Charles III continues his reign with a "slimmed-down" monarchy, Anne and Timothy are more important than ever. They represent the "old guard"—reliable, no-nonsense, and drama-free.
The fact that Anne was able to navigate a divorce and a successful second marriage in the early 90s—a time when the monarchy was under extreme scrutiny—is a testament to her character. She didn't play the victim in the press. She didn't do "tell-all" interviews. She just moved on.
For those looking for the "actionable" takeaway here, it's about the value of privacy. Even as one of the most famous women in the world, Princess Anne has proven that you can maintain a stable, long-term marriage by keeping the doors closed and the focus on the work.
If you are following the Royal Family's movements this year, keep an eye on the circulars. You'll see her name, and often his, tucked away in the list of daily duties. No fanfare. No fuss. Just the Princess Royal and Sir Timothy, getting the job done.
Next Steps for Royal Watchers:
- Check the Court Circular: This is the official record of past royal engagements. It’s the best way to see how often Anne and Timothy are actually out working versus the public perception.
- Look into the Church of Scotland vs. Church of England rules: If you’re interested in the legalities of royal life, the "Scottish Loophole" Anne used is a fascinating bit of ecclesiastical law that changed how the family handles divorce.
- Follow the Festival of British Eventing: This is held at their home, Gatcombe Park. It’s the one time of year you get a glimpse into their private estate and see the family in their natural habitat.
The answer to is Princess Anne married is a firm yes, to Sir Timothy Laurence, and they have been since December 12, 1992. Their relationship stands as one of the longest and most stable in the current Royal Family lineup.