Princess Anne and King Charles III to Present New Sovereign Standard at Buckingham Palace

Princess Anne and her brother, King Charles III, are set to embark on a rare joint outing as they travel to Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Their purpose?

To present the new Sovereign Standard to the Blues and Royals.

Princess Anne, serving as the Royal Colonel of the Blues and Royals, will attend the presentation in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace.

This event is particularly significant as it occurs once every decade.

The Quadrangle will be adorned with a parade of 35 service personnel and 27 military working horses for the presentation of the new standard.

The Blues and Royals, also known as the Royal Horseguards and First Dragoons, were last presented with their standard in May 2014 by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

As the monarch arrives, her entrance will be announced by Fanfare, followed by a royal salute from the Blues and Royals.

Princess Anne shares an exceptionally close bond with her older brother, King Charles III.

Their special connection was evident during His Majesty's historic coronation on May 6th.

On this momentous occasion, Princess Anne served as King Charles's personal bodyguard, ensuring his safety throughout the day.

Riding on horseback, she led a procession of armed forces personnel, following King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's carriage from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace.

Princess Anne, as Charles' gold stick-in-waiting, donned a magnificent green silk velvet thistle cloak with a white taffeta lining.

The cloak featured a hand-embroidered gold badge, a garter blue velvet hood, and beneath it all, her Blues and Royals uniform decorated with her medals.

In a rare interview with CBC News, Princess Anne expressed her role as the Colonel of the Blues and Royals in the Household Cavalry Regiment, serving as the gold stick.

She explained that historically, the gold stick was the original close protection officer.

When asked if she would like to fulfill this role for the coronation, Princess Anne gladly accepted, mentioning that it also solved her dress dilemma.

The close bond between Princess Anne and King Charles dates back to their childhood.

As young individuals, they relied on each other for support whenever their parents embarked on royal tours.

Throughout the years, they have continued to stand by each other's side during moments of need.

In addition to occasional joint outings, the siblings have shared significant life events, such as Prince Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales in 1969 and Princess Anne's participation in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

Moreover, in September 2022, Princess Anne provided unwavering support as she accompanied her brother during the emotional coffin procession of the late Queen towards Windsor Castle.

This further exemplifies the strong bond between the royal siblings.