While members of her family gathered at the British Museum to view the final design for the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial on what would have been the late monarch’s 100th birthday, Princess Anne was pictured across the city at London’s Regent’s Park.
Soaking up the sunshine, the Princess Royal sported a smile as she spoke with gardeners at the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden.
Dressed in a tailored burnt-orange coat, Anne turned heads in her bright ensemble, completing her look with a patterned red scarf, black leather gloves and matching boots.
As for her accessories, the 75-year-old wore pearl drop earrings and a floral spray brooch to break up her rust-hued coat. Decorated with emeralds, sapphires and rubies, the delicate gold flower appears to have been part of the royal’s jewellery collection for six decades.
Anne was first spotted wearing the brooch aged 11 with a sunny yellow outfit at the 1962 Royal Maundy Service at Westminster Abbey. While it perfectly complemented her knee-length peplum jacket and matching lemon hat, the jewellery has been used to accessorise numerous outfits Anne has worn, including her white knee-length dress at the 2022 Epsom Derby.
© Getty ImagesWhile the origins of the brooch are unknown, it’s possible that it was an item passed down from the late Queen, since Anne was only a pre-teen when she debuted it. This could mark a sentimental tribute to her late mother, who died in September 2022, aged 96.
© Getty ImagesCreated by The Royal Parks charity in collaboration with HTA Design, the new two-acre garden features a wildlife-supporting circular pond and a central flower garden planted with Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite flower, lily of the valley.
Speaking of the garden, which opens to the public on 27 April 2026, Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: “This magnificent tribute to Queen Elizabeth II will bring her love of horticulture to the centre of London, where it can be enjoyed by our communities and visitors for many years to come.
© Alamy Stock Photo“I have no doubt that this beautiful new garden will become a much-loved place for reflection and tranquillity for all those who come to explore our wonderful Royal parks.”
Anne’s style lessons from her late mother
Anne’s no-nonsense approach to fashion has been applauded by fans, with many noting she is an unintentional style icon, as well as one of the hardest-working royals.
She inherited the late monarch’s philosophy of reworking old pieces and giving them a new lease of life decades later, prioritising well-made items rather than fleeting trends.
© Getty Images for Ascot RacecoursShe explained to Women’s Weekly during the three-day tour of Australia to mark the Platinum Jubilee: “The Queen and I had a discussion the other day about the difference between fashion and style and I think maybe that’s relevant in the sense that she didn’t do fashion but she certainly does style, and style tends to last longer.
“You have an individual style and it’s a quality which has a long-term value.”
Misunderstood Queen
This did not mean that Elizabeth rejected fashion, more that she was selective and thoughtful about what she wore, aware of her international stage.
Caroline de Guitaut, surveyor of the King’s works of art and mastermind behind the Buckingham Palace exhibition, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, told HELLO!: “One of the things that has been written about the Queen in the past is that she wasn’t interested in fashion.
“The media compared her with her younger sister [Princess Margaret], who went to Paris couturiers, whereas the Queen was supporting the best of British. [Her style] was elegant, restrained and appropriate but something she made recognisable. She absolutely followed fashion.”
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