Princess Anne was her element even as the skies did their best to impersonate a monsoon
As sheets of tropical rain drenched Singapore’s national orchid garden last week, umbrellas shot up in frantic formation to shield the royal party.
But she stood unflinching, unmoved, and with a hairstyle so legendary it appears immune to meteorology.
“She doesn’t get rained off,” one of her team declared, perfectly capturing the spirit of a woman who has long proclaimed that “there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
While the rest of the royal family continues to be buffeted by the fallout from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ongoing scandal, Anne has been halfway around the world offering the ultimate antidote hard work, duty first, and not a private jet in sight.
The former “Airmiles Andy” may dominate headlines, but Anne is the one quietly logging the miles with purpose.
Fresh off four days of military and remembrance engagements in Australia, she hopped straight to Singapore for two more days marking 60 years of diplomatic relations since its independence from Malaysia.
During a speech celebrating the nation’s “enduring diplomatic” ties with the UK, she reminded guests that this was her sixth visit.
Her voice is now so reminiscent of her late mother’s that, with eyes closed, it could have been Queen Elizabeth II herself recalling those early tours.
Her reference to her first visit in 1972 accompanying the Queen and Prince Philip struck a comforting note, a reminder of steadier royal days before scandals became a recurring headline.
Landing from Brisbane around midnight on Tuesday, she was back in action by Wednesday morning, showing zero signs of jet lag as she stepped aboard the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey at Tuas Port.
“She loves a man in uniform. It always cheers her up,” an aide joked and Anne proved it, chatting over tea with the ship’s 60 servicemen and women.
While the King and the Ministry of Defence were still finalising the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s last remaining title of vice admiral, Anne holds several honorary naval ranks herself.
By her third engagement of the day at orchid garden, she hadn’t lost an ounce of momentum.
She beamed as she was presented with a purple orchid named in her honour, a fitting tribute among displays of “orchid diplomacy” featuring blooms named for visiting heads of state and dignitaries.