This Day in History | 1992 – Princess Royal remarries

Princess Anne today became Mrs Timothy Laurence after a small family wedding in Scotland.

The 42-year-old arrived at Crathie church near Balmoral Castle accompanied by her father Prince Philip, and her daughter and bridesmaid 11-year-old Zara.

Before a small family congregation she and the groom, Commander Laurence, 37, exchanged vows to stay together “until God shall separate us by death.”

Anne, dressed in a simple white suit with white blossoms in her hair, and Mr Laurence, in a Royal Navy uniform, emerged from the church to cheers from about 500 well wishers.

The newlyweds are expected to join the rest of the royal family for a short celebration at Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral estate.

Among the guests were the Queen, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Anne’s son from her first marriage Peter, 15.

Anne married Mark Phillips in 1973 at Westminster Abbey and they divorced this year.

But this is the first marriage for her groom whom she met during a tour of duty on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

In 1986, he was appointed an equerry to the Queen.

Their relationship became known in April 1989 when letters from the Commander were stolen from Anne’s briefcase and given to newspapers.

Four months later Anne announced her separation from Mark Phillips.

It is hoped Anne’s wedding celebrations will end a turbulent year for the Royal Family.

It was announced this week Prince Charles and the Princess of Wales have separated and Diana chose not to attend today’s ceremony.

The Queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, also separated from his wife the Duchess of York this year.

Both brothers accompanied Prince Edward at today’s ceremony.

The palace would not reveal if there are any plans for a honeymoon.

Courtesy BBC News

In  context

Rumours Princess Anne and Commander Laurence were leading separate lives surfaced in 2001 but received no comment from the Royal Family.

Princess Anne’s no fuss approach to royal duties has won her much admiration as the hardest working royal – with 655 engagements in her diary in 2001 – but also criticism for being too severe.

She was criticised at Christmas 2000 for apparently berating a well wisher in her seventies who had waited to greet the royal family as they completed a traditional celebration at St Mary Magdalen church on the Sandringham Estate.

The princess apparently took a basket handmade by the woman and said: “What a ridiculous thing to do.”