Princess Royal, Princess Anne

[grandduchessella]

The choker definitely is wrong with the outfit--it just blends. I don't think she's showing too much cleavage whether the dress is one piece or two pieces. But, oh, that hair--I just can't with it. I think she could benefit so much by a new style--and given how low-maintenance she is, you'd think all that hair wouldn't be too her liking. Lots of women carry off long hair into middle age and beyond but Anne's is just very dated. I think it ages and dates her more than any of her outfits. I think she has a nice, trim figure for her age and could really look good, with minimum styling even, with just a few alterations. I guess she just loves her hair. I could easily see her looking really nice if she had a cut like the Duchess of Gloucester.

And is it just me or is she starting to remind people of Princess Margaret? Something about these set of photos just seemed very reminiscent.

[CountessKate]

The choker definitely is wrong with the outfit--it just blends. I don't think she's showing too much cleavage whether the dress is one piece or two pieces. But, oh, that hair--I just can't with it. I think she could benefit so much by a new style--and given how low-maintenance she is, you'd think all that hair wouldn't be too her liking. Lots of women carry off long hair into middle age and beyond but Anne's is just very dated. I think it ages and dates her more than any of her outfits. I think she has a nice, trim figure for her age and could really look good, with minimum styling even, with just a few alterations. I guess she just loves her hair. I could easily see her looking really nice if she had a cut like the Duchess of Gloucester.

And is it just me or is she starting to remind people of Princess Margaret? Something about these set of photos just seemed very reminiscent.

She certainly has a family resemblance to Margaret, and the hair is certainly similar.  Here is Margaret for comparison (after elimination of the tiara):



I certainly agree with others that it's unlikely that we'll see Anne undertaking fashion makeovers any time soon - she seems like her mother, basically uninterested in it (but unlike the queen, doesn't care to spend any real money on her looks).

[CountessKate]

I really do wish that whoever advises the Royal women, namely Her Majesty and Princess Anne, had suggested a while back that they both use a little eybrow pencil - just a little.   

Looking at Princess Margaret, you have to wonder whether there is some fashion myth in the family, to the effect that eyebrow pencil is Makeup Too Far.

[timfromengland]

At  60+  Anne is looking quite stunning,
she can  even give  Kate a run for her money !

[CountessKate]

I came across this picture of Anne in 2008 at the state banquet for Sarkozy (the occasion on which Gordon Brown got lost!), looking pretty spiffy in Bellville Sassoon:



(OK, not good hair.  But good jewels and respectable accessories).

[Windsor]

I know this may spur opposing opinions, but I think often - and this picture of Princess Anne is a great example - that all the orders, sashes, etc. really distract from some otherwise gorgeous gowns that the royal ladies wear.  I understand the reasons behind them but I think in most instances the ladies would look much better without them!

[CountessKate]

I absolutely agree.  The real problems are highly decorated tops/bodices, which can fight with the sashes, jewels and orders.  Even when the couturiers design for the individual royal who they know will be wearing such paraphernalia (e.g. on royal tours), many can seldom resist the temptation to create elaborate bodices (Hartnell was a particular offender in this respect).  However, in this case Anne purchased the outfit from Bellville Sassoon's collection in 2003 so was probably wearing it on occasions where there was no requirement for orders to be worn before it turned up on this state occasion.

[Kalafrana]

Bottom half is verging on the see-through under those lights!

Ann

[Grace]

No, Anne wouldn't get caught out like that, it's just the sheen on the fabric, perhaps taffeta or similar?

[Kalafrana]

What I meant is that her legs are all too plainly visible.

Ann

[timfromengland]

 Is that a Princess Di  moment ?

[IvanVII]

That would look better without the top half being too busy. The lacing over the top half competes too much with the orders and jewlery.

[grandduchessella]

This wasn't noted in the caption at the Daily Mail but is that Andrew Parker Bowles walking with Anne and her son and  daughter-in-law Peter & Autumn Phillips? I know they are very good friends and dating long ago.

[Jen_94]

Yep, I think that is Andrew!