04 May 2023 , 11:28
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Princess Anne is one of the most dutiful and hardworking royals these days - but she's had a very controversial love life.
The love life of Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter has been in the public eye on numerous occasions, having gone through a divorce before remarrying her current husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.
Known as the 'rebel princess', Anne grew up with a raunchy reputation and rebellious streak - she was no stranger to flings, affairs and even a tabloid kiss.
The no-nonsense royal also had a temper and once told photographers to "naff off", earning herself the nickname, Her Royal Rudeness.
Early romances
Anne had a reputation for being full of life and also quite naughty in her teens, and she once admitted she was "not everyone's idea of fairy tale princess".
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Her teenage loves included Gerald Wald, who went on to become Prince Harry's godfather, and polo player Sandy Harper.
The 72-year-old was known as the 'rebel princess' when she was younger (Getty Images)
Anne had numerous flings and romances in her teen years and early twentiesShe was also linked to the Earl of Caithness and Brian Alexander, though none of these relationships lasted long.
The equestrian fell for Olympic equestrian Richard Meade - having shared a love of riding - but the romance was also not meant to be.
Love triangle
Thanks to its sexy deception in Netflix drama The Crown, Anne's fling with Andrew Parker-Bowles is her most famous.
The Princess had a fling with Andrew in 1970, a couple of years before he married Camilla in 1973, though the relationship was never serious.
Princess Anne had a fling with Andrew Parker Bowles before he married Camilla (Alpha Photo Press Agency Ltd)
Though Andrew and Anne have remained close friends since their romance (Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)Many believe this was because Andrew was Catholic, so an unlikely candidate for marriage in the Royal Family.
The two remain friends to this day and Andrew is even the godfather of Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall.
When Camilla later married Charles, the Queen Consort and Anne became sister-in-laws.
First husband
In 1968, Anne met Captain Mark Phillips in Mexico City and the two bonded over their passion for horses.
They began dating and five years later, Phillips proposed to the Princess with a sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
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Princess Anne married her first husband Captain Mark Phillips in 1973
Philips cheated on Anne and fathered a child with an art teacher in 1985 (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)Anne was the first of her royal siblings to get married, at Westminster Abbey in front of 1,500 guests, in a simple yet beautiful white high-necked gown.
The couple had two children together, son Peter in 1977 and daughter Zara in 1981, all the while their relationship began to crumble.
Alleged affairs
After Zara's birth, Anne and Phillips were rumoured to have marital troubles and both were thought to be involved in affairs.
The problems came to fruition when Phillips fathered a love child with New Zealand art teacher, Heather Tonkin, in 1985.
Anne and Philips had two children together, Zara (pictured) and Peter (Getty)Anne, however, was seemingly not crying into her pillow, as two alleged affairs of her own hit the headlines.
The first was with her married police protection officer, Detective Sergeant Peter Cross, who began working with her in 1979.
A year later, Cross was taken from his duties amid rumours he had become too close to the Princess.
But four years later he sold his story, claiming he "snuggled up" with the Princess, who would contact him under the name Mrs Wallis, in front of the TV.
Anne has never acknowledged or commented on the claims.
Sgt Peter Cross was the Royal Bodyguard to Princess Anne in 1979
She then had an affair with Captain Tim who became her second husbandThe second reported affair was with Captain Timothy Laurence, the Queen's former equerry, who is now Anne's second husband.
In 1989, when she was separated from but still married to Phillips, a collection of love letters from Laurence were stolen from her briefcase and offered to a newspaper.
A police officer in the case, Chief Supt Roy Ram, later recollected: "They were upfront about it, they were not ashamed of their relationship."
Second marriage
In late 1992, Anne married Sir Tim in Scotland, since the Church of England did not allow remarriages after divorce.
The wedding took place at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle in a service that was attended by roughly 30 guests, including the Queen and Prince Philip.
The couple on their wedding day in 1992 at the Crathie Church in Scotland (Raw/Nre/REX/Shutterstock)Instead of a traditional wedding gown, Anne wore a high neck white midi dress with a matching jacket, carried a posy of heather and wore a sprig of flowers in her hair.
The couple then settled and still live together on the Gatcombe estate in Gloucestershire close to both Peter as well as Zara and her husband Mike Tindall.