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Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence walk to church on Christmas Day© Getty

Princess Anne heading overseas after Christmas break - details

The Princess Royal spent the festive period at Sandringham with King Charles

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
January 2, 2024
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The Princess Royal took the title of hardest working royal for 2023, according to The Telegraph, and her diary for this year is already filling up fast.

Princess Anne, 73, will return to public duties on 4 January to attend the Oxford Farming Conference and she's also set to make a long-haul overseas trip this month.

Buckingham Palace has announced the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will travel to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from 10 to 12 January. 

Anne has been invited at the request of the Foreign Office to participate in events connected with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the UK.

Anne will undertake engagements and meet local communities and faith groups in the capital Colombo, the city of Kandy in the centre of Sri Lanka, and Jaffna on the northern tip of the country, the palace said. 

The Princess will also meet Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe during her stay.

Anne previously visited the country in South Asia in 1995 where she visited projects set up by Save The Children. King Charles, then Prince of Wales, also attended the 50th anniversary of Independence Day in Sri Lanka in 1998.

The late Queen Elizabeth II famously rewore her coronation gown for an official visit to Sri Lanka with Prince Philip in 1954.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in Sri Lanka© Getty
The late Queen and Philip in Sri Lanka in 1954, formerly known as Ceylon

Princess Anne and Sir Tim spent Christmas with the King and Queen at Sandringham in Norfolk, with the couple joining the royals on the walk to church on Christmas Day.

The pair, who celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary last month, wore matching blue and camel checked scarves.

WATCH: King Charles and Queen Camilla lead royals to church on Christmas Day

Anne was joined by her daughter and son-in-law, Zara and Mike Tindall, and their daughters, Mia, nine, and Lena, five, at the service at St Mary Magdalene church.

It was no doubt a welcome break for the Princess Royal, who carried out 457 engagements in 2023.

Lena Tindall was photographed giving her grandmother Princess Anne a defying look following the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk.© Shutterstock
Anne with her daughter Zara and granddaughter Lena

She pipped her brother, King Charles, 75, to the post, who ranked in second place with 425 engagements.

Timothy Laurence and Princess Anne, Princess Royal attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church © Getty
Anne and Sir Tim wore matching scarves

Majesty Magazine's Managing Editor, Joe Little, previously told HELLO!: "The Princess Royal, with more than half-a-century of duty and experience under her belt, is regarded by her brother the King as the ultimate pair of safe hands.

"Her no-nonsense attitude and work ethic, which even in her 70s shows no signing of waning, has won her a lot of praise – not that she would seek it – from the media and the public over the years."

LISTEN:  A Right Royal Podcast Christmas Special 

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