Princess Anne is the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
The very first official UK coin celebrating the Princess Royal has been revealed to mark Anne’s 75th birthday and her ‘remarkable lifetime of service’. The Royal Mint’s commemorative £5 piece, dubbed its ‘Anne-iversary coin’, was personally approved by the Princess.
It showcases a portrait of the King’s sister wearing her Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara, with her hair arranged in her signature bouffant. Surrounding the image is the tribute ‘The Princess Royal – Celebrating 75 Years – Duty and Devotion’, honouring Anne’s unwavering Royal commitment across the decades.
Anne, often regarded as the hardest-working member of the Royal Family, turns 75 on August 15, but has so far insisted her milestone should only be publicly recognised through a charity forum she hosted at Buckingham Palace in June.
Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: “For the first time in British numismatic history, we are honoured to celebrate the Princess Royal on an official UK coin. Her Royal Highness’s unwavering commitment to public service, charitable work, and support of His Majesty’s armed forces over seven and a half decades makes her truly deserving of this tribute.”
To the right of the portrait, Princess Anne’s official coat of arms is depicted, while on the obverse, the King is shown, having given the final approval in honour of his sister. Thomas T Docherty, the coin’s creator, said it reflected the Princess’s ‘strength of character’ and ‘understated elegance’.
The portrait of Anne’s head is based on a photograph of the Princess taken by John Swannell, a Royal Photographic Society fellow, and shows her staring directly at the camera. Mr Docherty said: “I wanted to capture Her Royal Highness’s remarkable legacy and dedication to public service.
“The portrait reflects her strength of character and unwavering commitment to duty.It was really by observing Princess Anne and looking at the role she plays within not only her family but the nation and the Commonwealth that formed inspiration for the design of the coin.
“She has, I would say, a kind of understated elegance and strength.” Mr Docherty then continued: “Being Scottish, I admire the Princess Royal’s dedication to Scottish organisations and communities, and I hope this coin serves as a fitting tribute.”
The art deco diamond and aquamarine Cartier tiara Anne wears was a wedding anniversary gift from King George VI to his wife, Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother. She then passed it on as a wedding gift to her granddaughter Anne in 1973.
The Princess is also depicted wearing an aquamarine pendant and earrings, which are believed to have been made from the same tiara when Anne had it altered in the 1990s.
Princess Anne is the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She has survived a kidnapping attempt, competed in the Olympics and spent decades supporting her mother before becoming a vital part of the King’s slimmed-down working monarchy.
In 2024, the Princess undertook nearly 400 official engagements – more than any other Royal Family member – despite being hospitalised for five nights in intensive care after a suspected horse-related incident.
The commemorative coin is available to purchase from the Royal Mint’s website on July 18, costing £17.50 for the brilliant uncirculated edition. Other versions of the £5 coin are also available, with a silver proof priced at £110, a silver proof piedfort costing £208, and a gold proof for £4,110.
The coin is also being sold in three sets, each featuring either a single George VI threepence or florin or multiple George VI coins from 1950, the year the Princess was born. The prices range from £25 to £4,500.
For more information, please visit the Royal Mint’s website.
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