Princess Anne Drops Royal Title on Christmas Card, Following Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Example
Princess Anne’s 2025 Christmas card.
Credit:
Governor of Queensland/Instagram
Key Details
- Princess Anne chose not to use her royal title on her 2025 Christmas card.
- The card was signed simply as “Anne.”
- Other royals, including Kate Middleton and Prince William, share a similar practice.
Princess Anne’s 2025 Christmas card has drawn attention due to her unique choice of signature.
On December 9, the Governor of Queensland’s office shared the card via Instagram. The card features well-wishes for the holiday season.
Inside, the card reads, “With Best Wishes for a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year.” Handwritten in blue ink, it concludes with “from Anne and Tim,” referring to Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Princess Anne’s 2025 Christmas card.
Governor of Queensland/Instagram
The card also features an interior photograph captioned “Sark 2025,” depicting Princess Anne, 75, and Sir Tim, 70, traveling by carriage during their visit to Sark in the Channel Islands. This outing took place in May 2025.
Recently, Princess Anne and Sir Tim visited Australia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, an organization for which she serves as Colonel-in-Chief. The card was sent from Government House during this trip.
Additionally, a second image shared by the Governor revealed the princess’s royal monogram on the card’s flap, featuring a coronet above the letter “A,” also printed in blue ink.
Princess Anne’s 2025 Christmas card.
Governor of Queensland/Instagram
A hallmark of her approach, Princess Anne is recognized for her commitment to royal duties and has been labeled the “hardest-working member” of the royal family since 2021, according to The Court Circular. Despite her no-nonsense demeanor, the choice not to use a royal title is consistent with a trend among working royals.
In December 2024, Kate Middleton and Prince William opted not to sign their Christmas card, which was publicly shared by their office. Their card read, “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year,” alongside a family photo.
Similarly, King Charles and Queen Camilla have also foregone signatures on their Christmas cards, with the latest missive echoing well-wishes for the holiday season. Their recent card featured a photograph taken to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.
The practice of skipping signatures is rooted in a practical concern: members of the British royal family refrain from signing autographs to mitigate the risk of forgery. In a previous interaction, Princess Kate explained to children that she is not permitted to write her signature, a rule that extends to other family members as well.
In summary, while it may seem unusual for royals not to sign their cards, practical considerations guide these choices, which align with the values of privacy and security upheld by the British monarchy.
