Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence's best moments as they mark wedding anniversary


Today, December 12, marks 31 years since Princess Anne tied the knot with her second husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence at Crathie Kirk, near the royal Scottish estate Balmoral.

The Princess Royal first crossed paths with the Royal Navy commander while he was serving on the Royal Yacht Britannia, with their relationship first beginning in 1989, three years after he began working as an equerry to the late Queen Elizabeth.

This was also the same year Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, announced their intention to separate, with their divorce being finalised in 1992 – just before the royal’s second wedding.

Over three decades later the couple are still happily married, and Sir Tim is a frequent fixture at royal events as the Princess Royal continues with her royal duties.

Here Express.co.uk looks back at some of the highlights of their relationship, 31 years after their intimate Scottish wedding ceremony.

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Sir Tim Laurence and Princess Anne wedding day

After a three year relationship, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence married on December 12 1992 at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral in Scotland.

Only 30 guests were invited to the rather intimate nuptials, a second marriage for the Princess Royal.

Now 31 years later the couple are still very happy together, with Sir Timothy regularly supporting his wife at her side.

(Image: Getty)

Princess Anne in 1989

Princess Anne was first romantically linked to Sir Timothy Laurence in 1989, as the cracks in her marriage to Captain Phillips became clear.

She already had two children with Captain Phillips, Peter, who was born in November 1977, and Zara, who arrived in May 1981.

Her soon-to-be husband had no children and had not been married before, having dedicated himself to his military career.

(Image: Getty)

Anne and Tim walking their dog

Following their marriage Anne and Tim settled at her Gloucestershire home Gatcombe Park, although they still maintain a residence in London.

Unlike her first marriage, which was held at Westminster Abbey and televised to millions of people, the Princess Royal’s second wedding was more of a family affair.

There were far fewer guests, and Anne wore a white jacket over a demure, knee-length dress and a spray of white flowers in her hair.

The family then celebrated with a private reception at Craigowan Lodge, with the Vide Admiral not being given a peerage after his marriage.

(Image: Getty)

Anne and Tim at 2018 Braemar Highland Gathering

One of the reasons for choosing to marry at Crathie Kirk was that the Church of Scotland permitted the remarriage of divorced persons under certain circumstances, unlike the Church of England.

Princess Anne was the first divorced royal to remarry since Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

However now King Charles has also remarried to Queen Camilla, following his divorce from Princess Diana.

(Image: Getty)

Princess Anne and Sir Tim in Papua New Guinea

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, Princess Anne and Sir Tim took a tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea in April 2022.

The couple have taken several royal trips together, including to Uganda, New Zealand and Canada.

As Anne is still a working royal she has a number of obligations to carry out, and is often praised for being one of the hardest-working members of the Firm.

(Image: Getty)

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