Princess Anne's early clash with the American media explained
Anne has gone on to become the most hard-working royal of the modern era, clocking in 457 royal engagements
She may be one of the most respected royals today, but Princess Anne’s early introduction to the American press was anything but warm.
Back in 1970, a then 19-year-old Princess Anne joined her brother Prince Charles on a semi-official visit to Washington, DC, but rather than charm the US media, the Princess Royal quickly found herself under fire.
According to Channel 5’s Princess Anne: A Quite Remarkable Royal, journalist Victoria Murphy explained that the trip didn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
“She got some negative press… they were quite quick to pick up on the fact that she wasn’t smiling very often,” Murphy said.
“They thought she didn’t look like she was enjoying herself.”
The criticism was harsh, with US outlets dubbing her “Princess Sourpuss” after claiming she appeared aloof and sulky during her visit to the White House, where she and Charles were hosted by President Nixon’s daughters and son-in-law.
“She refused to answer anyone’s questions, saying ‘I don’t give interviews,’” royal expert Penny Junor recalled in 2021.
Despite the backlash, Anne has gone on to become the most hard-working royal of the modern era, clocking in 457 royal engagements in 2024 alone.
RELATED: Princess Anne breaks decades-long style tradition with stunning new hairdo
