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Anne, who is guest-editing a special issue of Country Life magazine in the run-up to her 70th birthday on August 15, credits the Queen and “hard act to follow” Prince Philip for her love of nature. She writes: “Both my parents had a love and understanding of the natural world through their own experiences. Perhaps even more so for my father when, during his rather disjointed young life, he ended up at school at Gordonstoun and was introduced to the wilds of Scotland, both land and sea.

“Scotland had its influence on my mother too as did the big skies of Norfolk, and the huge fields and marshes of the Sandringham Estate.

“Windsor’s Home Park and Great Park were a constant presence for her, as they were for all of us.” Anne particularly praises her 99-year-old father, saying: “Prince Philip has added his own unique talents by being very well briefed, then engaging and bringing together all interests that are part of the countryside.

“He is a very hard act to follow, but I’m grateful for the time he gave us and the example he set us.”

Anne adds: “It is only later in life that you realise how much you have been exposed to and how much you have absorbed from your early years.

“We were taught to observe and question, to be openminded, to understand differences, to treat every person as an individual with their own skills and to remember there is very little that is completely new under the sun.”

Anne says personal favourites include a painting of her father’s racing yacht Bloodhound, a “horticultural miracle” on the Hebridean island of Islay and a meal of devilled pheasant.

But the Princess Royal’s primary focus is her vision to protect the future of Britain’s countryside.

She calls for more affordable rural housing, better transport and energy sources, and admits she loathes fly-tipping and waste.

Anne says Covid-19 has highlighted a need for even more careful managing of the production and supply of food.

She calls for “housing for local families that are priced out of the market; for young, single people who would like to stay and work in their home village or area; young families; and retired people who were born in the village and would like to return home”.

Anne’s dislikes include “clothes, furniture, vehicles and supermarket trolleys that can be recycled safely and economically and not dumped”. And she adds: “Did I mention that fly-tipping is another major irritation to me?” Her favourite crusaders are children’s author Michael Morpurgo, former miner John Stubbs, who became head gamekeeper at Gatcombe Park and Windsor, and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson.

Country Life editor Mark Hedges said of Anne: “Her passion for the countryside shines through with every feature. We do hope our special edition makes a very fitting 70th birthday present.”

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