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Princess Anne caused a stir last December, after a glimpse of her sassy personality broke through at a traditionally restrained Buckingham Palace reception. When the Queen hosted world leaders for a NATO reception, the Princess Royal was seen to make a shrugging gesture to her mother, as Her Majesty stood in the formal receiving line. The video went viral, for Anne’s casual familiarity with the monarch, but also because the public interpreted the gesture as the princess refusing to come over to meet US President Donald Trump in the line.

Speaking to Vanity Fair last month in a landmark interview for her upcoming 70th birthday, the Princess Royal told Katie Nicholl how, characteristically, she paid no attention to the online frenzy.

Ms Nicholl wrote: “Last year she became an internet sensation after she was caught on camera seeming to snub President Trump during a NATO leaders reception at Buckingham Palace. 

“Footage from the event appears to show the queen beckoning her daughter to join the royal lineup. 

“Instead, Anne shrugs her shoulders. Cue a thousand memes. 

“According to sources who were in the room where it happened, Princess Anne had in fact thought she was being asked to see if anyone else was still waiting to meet the Queen; she shrugged her shoulders because it was only her. 

“She’s not on Twitter (her aides post on her behalf), so she was unaware of the commotion her casual shoulder shrug had caused.” 

However, it was another moment that caught the eye of online royal watchers that really irked the Princess Royal.

The Princess was pictured smiling and chatting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron, over a glass of wine at the reception.

Overheard comments from Mr Johnson and Mr Trudeau in the video appeared to be making reference to Donald Trump

Ms Nicholl writes: “[Anne] was made aware of another clip in which she was seen mingling with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, French president Emmanuel Macron, and British prime minister Boris Johnson. 

“According to news outlets, the world leaders were laughing at Trump and his lengthy press conference earlier that day.

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A royal source told the author: “The princess was unhappy to be dragged into that particular story because she has always been careful not to be seen to be political in any way.

“She is also incredibly respectful, so any suggestion that she would laugh at anyone behind their backs was quite upsetting for her.” 

Ms Nicholl added: “The royals are expected to be politically neutral and, like her mother, the Princess has always been careful not to stray into the political arena.”

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