Why Princess Anne is the only royal who can challenge King Charles

While Queen Camilla is often described as King Charles’s “rock,” it turns out she might not be the monarch’s closest confidante. 

That title, according to royal insiders, belongs to someone who’s stood by his side for over seven decades: his sister, Princess Anne.

In the high-pressure, heavily scrutinized world of royalty, trust is in short supply. But for King Charles, his inner circle includes a small group of unwavering allies: his eldest son Prince William, his brother Prince Edward, and most notably, the Princess Royal.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told Express: “The Princess Royal is his no-nonsense sibling: utterly loyal to the Crown, a consummate professional, someone Charles can lean on and turn to in good times and bad." 

"I think Anne has become her brother’s confidante more than ever since he became King. She knows him inside and out, and he can tell her anything.”

Anne’s steady presence was formally recognized when King Charles appointed her as Gold Stick-in-Waiting for his coronation, a ceremonial role dating back to the 15th century, tasked with protecting the monarch’s personal safety.

The King’s trust in Anne seems to stem from her reputation for integrity, hard work, and, most of all, blunt honesty. 

Her famed “no-nonsense” attitude has won her admiration across the board, and even when it comes to royal strategy, she doesn’t hesitate to voice her opinion. 

One notable example: she publicly disagreed with her brother’s proposal for a “slimmed-down” monarchy.

Speaking to CBC News in 2023, Anne pushed back on the idea, saying: “It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I have to say. I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”

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