Princess Anne appeared flattered as 101-year-old veteran issued a gushing eight-word statement about her role as a member of the Royal Family. The 75-year-old was pictured attending a gathering at St James’s Palace on Thursday evening.
The event attended by the royal was the Christmas Tea Party for The Not Forgotten Association, which supports veterans and service personnel who are suffering from injury and illness. Yoga instructor Dorothea Barron, who attended the event, served with the Women’s Royal Naval Service during World War Two.
Speaking after her appearance at the event, Dorothea recalled what she said to Anne as she grasped her hand in amazement at meeting the royal.
Noting that she said to Anne what she claims “everybody thinks”, Dorothea said she told her “that she is an absolute brick for the family”.
Full of praise for Anne, she added: “She is working so hard, and I said, as a mother with a daughter, I have so much respect for her. She’s practical, she’s down to earth, and she’s a damned hard worker.”
She also emphasised that, as a member of the Royal Family and the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Anne “has kept the family’s promise, her mother’s promise, and works her socks off”.
Anne is often described as the “hardest-working” member of the Royal Family, with her having held the most investiture ceremonies in 2025 so far.
Frank Oldham, 106, also met Anne on Thursday, describing the experience as “just amazing”.
Mr Oldham, who was the oldest veteran at the festive celebration, was accompanied by his daughter at the event.
Clearly moved by the grandeur of the historic venue and the special attention he received, he said, “you just can’t add to it”.
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