Princess Anne Wears 57-Year-Old Piece of Jewelry to Poignant Service

Princess Anne honored Australia and New Zealand’s fallen heroes on Anzac Day wearing a 57-year-old brooch—one of the oldest pieces in her collection.

On April 25, the Princess Royal wore her gold ribbon brooch to attend the Dawn Service at Wellington Arch in Hyde Park Corner. Anne—the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip—pinned the brooch to her lapel as she represented her older brother, King Charles, who is set to begin his U.S. state visit alongside Queen Camilla early this week. Elsewhere on Saturday, Kate Middleton also stepped out to represent the monarch as she attended commemorations at both the Cenotaph and Westminster Abbey.

Anne looked solemn as she laid a wreath at the Dawn Service, pairing her diamond-encrusted brooch with a forest green coat. Tatler reported that the brooch—shaped like a knotted ribbon—is “one of the oldest pieces of jewelry in her collection.” She was first seen wearing the piece in 1969, when the royal family welcomed Apollo 8 mission commander Colonel Frank Borman to Buckingham Palace.

Anne later wore the brooch in Washington, D.C. in 2014, and the next year, in 2015, wore it again to Royal Ascot and the Anzac Day service.

Tatler reported that the origin of the brooch isn’t known, but “it clearly holds a lot of significance for Princess Anne, who has worn it for several milestone moments in her life.” So meaningful is the brooch to the Princess Royal that she chose to wear it for her 70th birthday portrait, taken in 2020.

Anzac Day has been observed in London since King George V attended the first service at Westminster Abbey in 1916 to mark the anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, according to Tatler. Since then, Anzac Day services have served as a way to commemorate soldiers from Australia and New Zealand—both Commonwealth countries—who have lost their lives in conflict, as well as a chance to recognize all those who have served.

The Princess Royal’s appearance on Saturday was an early one—Hello! reported that Anne arrived shortly before 5 a.m., and, in addition to her tailored green coat, she wore black gloves and a structured hat. Like the Princess of Wales also did on Saturday, Anne wore a red poppy pin affixed to her lapel, serving as another way to remember those who died in conflict. Alluding to the early morning hour, Hello! reported that “the soft morning light added to the solemn atmosphere of the occasion.”

Anne has also attended Anzac Day commemorations at dawn in both 2015 and 2021, per Town & Country.