Princess Anne’s 75th Portrait: Elegant Chignon Marks First Major Hair Change in 50 Years
Zoe Bennett. The facts matter. Here’s what we know so far.
Princess Anne unveiled a quietly dramatic style update in an official portrait released to mark her upcoming 75th birthday: after roughly five decades of her signature bouffant, the Princess Royal appeared in a refined chignon, trading volume for a twisted bun in a Windsor Castle photograph taken with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
The image, captured by royal photographer Chris Jackson and posted with a birthday greeting, was shot moments before the State Banquet at Windsor Castle that honored French President Emmanuel Macron. The timing is verifiable: Jackson publicly credited the portrait as being taken at the palace in late May during the state visit. In the portrait, Anne wears an ivory gown with lace detailing, a cropped jacket and the diamond Festoon Tiara, while Sir Timothy is in black tuxedo attire with ceremonial red cuffs and multiple medals.
Why does this matter beyond a fresh look for a senior royal? For five decades Anne’s bouffant has been as much a part of her public brand as her equestrian skill and steadfast public service. In the 2020 BBC documentary Princess Royal: Anne at 70, Anne herself explained that her voluminous style is quick to create, telling producers it takes her “10 or 15 minutes” to do a look that hair teams on The Crown required hours to replicate. That anecdote helps explain the longevity of a practical and easily maintained royal hairstyle for someone with a demanding schedule: Anne routinely attends state events, supports her brother King Charles III and maintains an active roster of engagements.
This hair shift is subtle but symbolically resonant. The chignon debuted publicly at the Windsor State Banquet, a high-visibility event tied to formal diplomacy, and was later used in the official birthday portrait. The choice of a sleeker updo for a formal portrait suggests a careful balancing of tradition and contemporary refinement. It also aligns with the broader visual narrative of the royal family adapting its public image after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and Charles’s subsequent accession. Anne’s public comments to CBC in 2022—about having to shift how she and the wider family support the new monarch—underscore how presentation and duty interact for working royals.
From a branding perspective, the new look will likely generate media ripple effects. Hair is a low-risk, high-notice modification for a royal figure such as Anne, whose visual identity has been consistent across generations. The new chignon may prompt discussion about age, aesthetics and the role of image management in modern monarchy, topics already circulating as other senior royals make headlines: Peter Phillips recently announced his engagement; Queen Camilla received a historic vice admiral appointment from the Royal Navy; and the Princess of Wales adjusted public duties following her cancer treatment.
Photographer Chris Jackson’s involvement lends further weight: Jackson has previously shot Queen Camilla’s official portrait and is a trusted documentarian of the family’s formal imagery. The placement of Anne’s portrait ahead of her milestone 75th birthday is a deliberate communications choice, using a polished visual to celebrate longevity and continuity while offering a small, fashionable pivot that keeps the narrative current.
In short, the new hairstyle is not merely cosmetic. It is a measured, public-facing decision that reflects Anne’s role as a working royal who blends practicality with ceremonial expectation. Whether this marks a permanent switch or an occasional variation remains to be seen. For now, the chignon is a graceful new visual note in the long-running story of a royal who has always favored duty and efficiency over spectacle.
That wraps up today’s analysis. More updates will follow as the birthday celebrations and public engagements continue.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Chris Jackson (photographer Instagram), BBC (Princess Royal: Anne at 70), CBC News, Hello!
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
