Who is Princess Anne’s long-time husband, Sir Timothy Laurence? The retired Royal Navy officer was an equerry to the late Queen Elizabeth, and has been married to the former royal ‘rebel’ since 1992

Jun 28 , 2024

Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence have now been married for 32 years after their relationship got off to a clandestine start. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images

Princess Anne’s husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, has shared some positive updates around his wife’s recovery following news that she was hospitalised for a minor head injury and concussion believed to be caused by a horse, per BBC.

According to the source, the 73-year-old princess was hospitalised following an incident that occurred on June 23 on her Gloucestershire estate.

“She’s doing fine, slow but sure,” said Laurence as he left the hospital in Bristol after paying her a visit. “She is recovering well.”

Here’s what we know about her supportive 69-year-old husband:

Timothy Laurence is a retired Royal Navy officer

Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence, seen here during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, have supported each other for over 30 years. Photo: PA Wire/DPA

According to Hello!, Laurence joined the navy in 1973, where he worked as navigating officer for both the HMY Britannia and HMS Sheffield. He continued to rise through the ranks, eventually become a rear-admiral in 2004, and didn’t retire until 2010 after serving in the navy for 37 years, the outlet reports.

He was an equerry to the late Queen Elizabeth

Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence (right) sit with the rest of the royal family during a thanksgiving service for Queen Elizabeth’s late husband, Prince Philip, a year after his death. Photo: AP

As reported by Hello!, Laurence was also an equerry for the late Queen Elizabeth from 1986 to 1989.

How did Princess Anne meet Timothy Laurence?

Princess Anne and Timothy Lawrence pictured together on June 17, just a week before her hospitalisation. Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images

It’s believed that the pair met while Laurence was serving as an equerry to the queen, according to Town & Country magazine. Anne was married to her husband Captain Mark Phillips at the time.

Laurence and Anne grew fond of each other and engaged in a lengthy exchange of intimate love letters. The letters written by Laurence were eventually stolen from the princess and fell into the hands of The Sun newspaper. Their relationship was exposed to the public even before Anne and Phillips’ announcement of their separation.

When did Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence get married?

Princess Anne and her husband Vice-admiral Sir Timothy Laurence at the 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle on May 2. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images

The pair finally wed in December 1992 in Scotland, at a small parish nearby Balmoral Castle, as the Church of England did not allow divorcees to remarry at that time. The private event welcomed 30 guests, including Anne’s daughter with her first husband, Zara Tindall, as bridesmaid. The couple have now been together for an impressive 32 years.

Royalty

Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence recently shared updates about his wife’s ‘slow but sure’ recovery after she sustained a minor head injury from a horse on her Gloucestershire estate
Laurence first entered Anne’s orbit when he served as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth, though Anne was married to Captain Mark Phillips at the time