Princess Anne has been named the hardest working royal of 2021. Anne, the Princess Royal, carried out 387 official engagements in 2021, just two more than Prince Charles, who carried out 385. Despite losing Prince Philip and suffering with ill health this year, Her Majesty the Queen still carried out 184 engagements.
- Anne, the Princess Royal, officially carried out the most engagements in 2021, with 387
- Anne has long been known as one of the hardest working royals, and she pipped Charles to the top spot this year with two extra engagements
- In other royal news, Candle in the Wind almost wasn’t played at Princess Diana’s funeral
Princess Anne has reclaimed her title as the hardest working royal after Prince Charles took the top spot in 2019 and 2020.
In 2021, Anne beat her older brother, Charles, by two engagements, for a total of 387.
The family's engagements are monitored by royal watcher Tim O'Donovan, who tracks the type and number of engagements each member carries out. He uses the Court Circular, the official daily list of royal engagements, to monitor the activity of each of the royals throughout the year.
Anne has long been praised for her charity work, and her number of engagements are fast approaching the figures she was achieving before the pandemic limited how much could be done.
Before the pandemic in 2019, Anne racked up 506 engagements. Her 2021 engagements are still lower than that, but with the Queen’s ill health leading to her children taking on more responsibilities, it’s likely Anne will be matching, if not overtaking, that figure next year.
Despite some health concerns, the Queen’s 184 public engagements show that Her Majesty is showing no sign of slowing down, even as she nears her historic 70th year on the throne, which will be celebrated with a four day Bank Holiday in the UK.
Royal engagements in 2021
- Princess Anne—387 engagements
- Prince Charles—385 engagements
- Prince William—235
- The Earl of Wessex—204
- The Countess of Wessex—194
- The Queen—184
-
Are coffee grounds good for houseplants? Here's what horticulture experts sayCould your morning caffeinated pick-me-up be as beneficial to your beloved indoor plants as it is in the garden?
-
Looks from the 1980s that we could totally see on the red carpet todayFashion trends always come back in style - and these quintessential 80s looks could easily fit in with the stars of today
-
Snake print wedges with lemon-drop-yellow? Duchess Sophie just showed us how it's doneThe Duchess of Edinburgh has brought back one of her favourite dresses for the first time in 2025 and styled it with snake print shoes
-
Kate Middleton addresses family move and why she and Prince William swapped London for WindsorThe Princess of Wales has explained why she and Prince William moved to Berkshire in 2022 and it makes complete sense
-
Duchess Sophie's soothing sage walls and cream cabinets in Bagshot Park kitchen create a sense of calm cosinessThe Duchess of Edinburgh's royal kitchen is a calming space with soft green and cream tones and she once shared a glimpse of it
-
Duchess Sophie brings royal style to New York with chocolate brown blazer and pink satin shirtThe Duchess of Edinburgh was the epitome of smart sophistication in New York in her tailored blazer and contrasting shirt
-
Duchess Sophie's comfy trainers are a pair you'll wear on repeat – and they're on sale todayThese royal-approved chunky Puma trainers are so versatile
-
Princess Anne goes for tonal teal look on Commonwealth Day as she stays true to style ethosPrincess Anne loves making the most of her wardrobe favourites and her latest look was a celebration of tonal dressing
-
Duchess Sophie looks epic in camo and cool walking boots as she gets stuck in for day at army centreThe Duchess of Edinburgh showed that functionality and style can go hand in hand as she stepped out in her sturdy walking boots
-
Pattern and colour? Princess Anne's checked handbag and spring green coat pulled it offPrincess Anne just delivered a masterclass in how to make styling prints and bright colours together not at all scary
