NewIdea
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
Subscribe
Kim Kardashian and Stephanie Shepherd rekindle their friendship
Watch 2:44

Kim Kardashian and Stephanie Shepherd rekindle their friendship

{headline}

{headline}

Exclusive: Princess Anne's ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips' love child found

Exclusive: Princess Anne's ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips' love child found

Insiders give insight on alleged feud between Prince Charles, William and Harry

Insiders give insight on alleged feud between Prince Charles, William and Harry

Prince Philip is the most popular royal family member amongst palace staff

Prince Philip is the most popular royal family member amongst palace staff

Sarah Ferguson in new interview: 'I married my man'

Sarah Ferguson in new interview: 'I married my man'

{headline}

{headline}

Exposed: Princess Anne’s affair with Camilla’s husband

Exposed: Princess Anne’s affair with Camilla’s husband

Shock royal tapes exposed: What they didn’t want you to see

Shock royal tapes exposed: What they didn’t want you to see

Inside the very lavish lifestyle of Princess Charlotte

Inside the very lavish lifestyle of Princess Charlotte

{headline}

{headline}

Royal shock: Prince Philip’s DNA solved murder mystery

Royal shock: Prince Philip’s DNA solved murder mystery

Why Princess Anne is more favoured by the Queen than Charles or William

Why Princess Anne is more favoured by the Queen than Charles or William

Why the Queen and Prince Philip weren't in Charles' birthday photos

Why the Queen and Prince Philip weren't in Charles' birthday photos

US report: Prince Andrew's place in Royal Family in jeopardy after new scandal

US report: Prince Andrew's place in Royal Family in jeopardy after new scandal

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip 'living apart'

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip 'living apart'

Footage of Wills' & Kate graduation causes meltdown

Footage of Wills' & Kate graduation causes meltdown

US report: Queen Elizabeth escapes assassins

US report: Queen Elizabeth escapes assassins

  1. Home
  2. Royals

A look at Princess Anne's very rocky love life

The royal has had her fair share of scandal. - by Georgia Mars
  • 30 Jul 2018

Princess Anne may enjoy a relatively low-key life away from the royal spotlight, but she's had her fair share of royal scandal throughout the years - especially when it came to her romantic life. 

With The Crown officially announcing a storyline based around the princess, unearthed secrets about the royals love life are due to be shown in the series. 

The younger Princess Royal will be played by Call the Midwife star Erin Doherty, and while the main storyline is yet to be announced by Netflix, its been claimed it could focus on her past loves, sad divorce and long road to happiness in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Ahead of The Crown's release, we've taken a look back at Anne's dating history - from her love affairs, heartbreaks and all the scandalous rumours in between.

 

princess anne
Getty

While Anne was regularly seen at royal functions and horse events in her younger years, one of the first men ever linked to the daughter of Queen Elizabeth was Gerald Ward - who would later become Prince Harry's godfather. 

The soldier, banker, businessman, farmer and sportsman was regularly spotted with the princess shortly after she left Benenden school in her late teens. While the couple never confirmed their romance, it’s been claimed in several reports since that they shared a close bond at the time.

Shortly after, Anne was romantically linked to horseman Richard Meade - who went on to win 3 Olympic gold medals for eventing. 

His children are very close friends of Prince William and Harry, with William naming them among Louis' godparents.  

rpincess anne
Getty

Then, came Princess Anne's most scandalous romantic past.

Andrew Parker-Bowles, the ex-husband of Camilla Parker-Bowles, had a heated love affair while he was dating the Duchess of Corwall, royal writer Penny Juror claims.

Throughout the years, the former British Army Officer's extramarital affairs become somewhat notorious, after he married Camilla Shand - now Duchess of Cornwall - in 1973. 

Royal writer Junor believes that Camilla may never have struck up a romance with Prince Charles if her then-boyfriend hadn't struck up an affair with his royal sibling. 

Junor, who regarded as a reliable source, claimed that Camilla planned to teach her 'cheating boyfriend a lesson.' 

She recalled the love affairs during a talk at the Henley Literary Festival, stating: '[Camilla] was passionately in love with [Andrew] but he was a cad, he was bonking other people, some of her friends.

'There was a lovely story when she was walking through London in the evening and spotted his car parked outside the flat of a very good friend of hers. So she let the tyres down and wrote a message in lipstick on his windscreen.

'So when she was introduced to Charles and he thought she was pretty special...he thought she was a bit of alright and she thought 'Andrew is at the moment off with Princess Anne, you know her brother, teach Andrew a lesson'. So she had a fling with Charles.' 

Fellow royal writer Phil Dampier believes Junor's story may be true, and knowns that Parker-Bowles and Princess Anne are very close friends.

He told IBTimes UK: 'I have read this before and it wouldn't surprise me. Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles were very close – and they still are!

'You see them together at Royal Ascot every year and they are best friends. He was her first love and their bond goes very deep. It was a weird royal set-up which Diana went into not realising the depth of the relationships.'

Anne and Andrew
Getty

Anne went on to marry Captain Mark Phillips, just four months after her affair with Andrew ended. 

According to the Mail Online, a palace insider claimed at the time: 'She was in pieces over Andrew’s marriage to Camilla. But she’s made of stern stuff — she sought out and found a Photofit of Andrew, and married him.'

Following a stunning wedding attended by the royal family, they enjoyed a 19-year marriage and welcomed son Peter and daughter Zara together.

However, despite the image of a perfect marriage, the rumours began for Anne.

Princess Anne
Getty

Anne was hit with reports that she had struck up a romantic love affair with her personal bodyguard, Sergeant Peter Cross of the Royal Protection Squad. 

It's claimed that Cross was relieved of his royal duties shortly after. 

He later sold his story to UK newspaper, News Of The World, in 1984 for a reported £600,000 (AU$1million), said to be the equivalent of around $2million today.

In it, Cross made claims that he and the princess would 'snuggle up together in front of the TV' and that she would ask him to come to the country side for days on end. Cross' claims were never confirmed. 

timothy
Getty

Anne later became involved with current husband Timothy Laurence. 

While he was unmarried at the time, letters between the pair were leaked to another UK newspaper shortly after.

They married shortly after in December 1992, eight months after her divorce from Phillips.

The couple have been together ever since and while they keep their private life largely out of the spotlight, they’re often spotted together at public events and royal engagements.

  • Royals
  • News
  • Love And Relationships
  • Meghan Markle
  • Prince Harry
  • Catherine Middleton
  • Queen Elizabeth
  • Prince Charles
  • Camilla Parker-Bowles
  • Prince George
  • Princess Charlotte
  • Prince William
  • Prince Louis
Georgia Mars
Georgia Mars is a Digital Content Editor at New Idea Magazine. As a self-professed celeb expert, Georgia claims to know everything about everyone! When she's not digging deep for the next big celebrity scoop, you can find Georgia catching up on the latest reality TV.

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Recommended to you

Kim Kardashian and Stephanie Shepherd rekindle their friendship
Watch 2:44

Kim Kardashian and Stephanie Shepherd rekindle their friendship

{headline}

{headline}

Exclusive: Princess Anne's ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips' love child found

Exclusive: Princess Anne's ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips' love child found

Insiders give insight on alleged feud between Prince Charles, William and Harry

Insiders give insight on alleged feud between Prince Charles, William and Harry

Prince Philip is the most popular royal family member amongst palace staff

Prince Philip is the most popular royal family member amongst palace staff

Sarah Ferguson in new interview: 'I married my man'

Sarah Ferguson in new interview: 'I married my man'

{headline}

{headline}

Exposed: Princess Anne’s affair with Camilla’s husband

Exposed: Princess Anne’s affair with Camilla’s husband

Shock royal tapes exposed: What they didn’t want you to see

Shock royal tapes exposed: What they didn’t want you to see

Inside the very lavish lifestyle of Princess Charlotte

Inside the very lavish lifestyle of Princess Charlotte

{headline}

{headline}

Royal shock: Prince Philip’s DNA solved murder mystery

Royal shock: Prince Philip’s DNA solved murder mystery

Why Princess Anne is more favoured by the Queen than Charles or William

Why Princess Anne is more favoured by the Queen than Charles or William

Why the Queen and Prince Philip weren't in Charles' birthday photos

Why the Queen and Prince Philip weren't in Charles' birthday photos

US report: Prince Andrew's place in Royal Family in jeopardy after new scandal

US report: Prince Andrew's place in Royal Family in jeopardy after new scandal

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip 'living apart'

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip 'living apart'

Footage of Wills' & Kate graduation causes meltdown

Footage of Wills' & Kate graduation causes meltdown

US report: Queen Elizabeth escapes assassins

US report: Queen Elizabeth escapes assassins

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • New Idea food
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Health
  • Men’s Health
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7travel
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Shop This Offer
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!
NewIdea

Access your account

Personalise the newsletters you receive and gain access to competitions and offers

By signing in, you agree to our Privacy Statement .
Login Error

Oops!
Something went wrong, we were unable to log you in using that account.
Please try again later.

Confirm your details

By continuing, you agree to our
Terms of Service and Privacy Statement .
Login Successful

Thanks!
Logging you in now.

Login Error

Oops!
Something went wrong, Please try again later.

New users register and returning users login, it's as easy as that

Login to your account by email

  • Registration
  • Login

By continuing, you agree to our
Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.

Forgot your password?
By continuing, you agree to our
Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Login Error

Oops!
Something went wrong, Please try again later.

Forgot your password? Enter your email address below.

By continuing, you agree to our
Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Login Successful

Thanks!
You should be receiving an email shortly to reset your password

Login Error

Oops!
Something went wrong, we were unable to reset your password.
Please try again later.

Create a new password

By continuing, you agree to our
Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Reset Successful

Thanks!
Your password has been successfully updated.

Reset Error

Oops!
Something went wrong, we were unable to reset your password.
Please try again later.