The Princess Royal, who did not speak to the press, was regarded in her youth as being rather surly and impolite. Her manner drew particular criticism from the American press during her visit to Washington DC not long after she left school. The 2002 Channel 4 documentary ‘The Real Princess Anne’ added she often found herself in trouble, citing her numerous speeding offences and criminal record after her dog bit someone.

It said: “The Princess Royal is often in trouble. Unlike the kidnap attempt, it’s usually trouble of her own making.

“She has been accused of being rude, sulky and difficult.

“She was also the first of the Queen’s children to be divorced.

“At one time, she looked like the royal least likely to succeed.

READ MORE: Kate Middleton’s awkward email to friends – ‘Don’t call me Kate!’

“Yet now, when the royal family is engulfed in problems, Anne seems somehow to emerged unencumbered and untainted.”

The documentary is likely referring to problems with the Queen’s other children, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, whose marriages and divorces were messier than Anne’s.

Joy Billington, who was a journalist in Washington DC at the time of Anne and Charles 1970 US visit slammed Anne’s behaviour towards the press.

She said: “She was very bad-tempered, very sulky, she really didn’t want to be there, that was the impression one had.

“Helen Thomas, very respected journalist, said ‘Princess Anne, what do you think of the Washington Monument?’

“And instead of saying ‘very tall’… she could have answered in two simple words, she said ‘I don’t do interviews’.”

Meanwhile, royal biographer Kitty Kelley claimed Anne’s dismissive behaviour “made Charles look good” by comparison.

In her book ‘The Royals’ she explained how Charles had tolerated tedious questions from reporters, but Anne had refused.

DON’T MISS
How Queen hit out at ‘very rude’ Chinese officials [VIDEO]
Prince Charles’ hilarious reaction to new housing development [REVEALED]
Meghan Markle’s ‘strange decision’ was ‘not one Diana would have made’ [EXPERT]

She added: “He smiled for photographers, she swatted them like nasty flies.”

Her demeanour was not the only thing that got Anne in trouble, however.

She got her first speeding fine aged 20, before racking up four more and was even banned from driving for a month.

Then, in 2002, she pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her English bull terrier bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

She was fined £500 for the attack, had to pay £250 in compensation and £148 in costs at the Slough magistrates court.

This meant she was the first member of the Royal Family to be convicted of a criminal offence.

Anne was also the the first of the Queen’s children to get divorced, when she ended her marriage with Captain Mark Phillips in 1992.

Later that same year, she married Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

Source: Read Full Article