The Princess Royal, the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Clarence House, London, on August 15, 1950, when her mother was Princess Elizabeth, heir presumptive to the throne. She was baptized Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise at Buckingham Palace on October 21. She received the title Princess Royal from her mother in June 1987; she was previously known as Princess Anne. She is the seventh holder of the title.
In 1994 Queen Elizabeth appointed the princess a Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. In 2000, to mark her 50th birthday, The Princess Royal was appointed to the Order of the Thistle, in recognition of her work for charities.
The engagement of The Princess Royal to Lieutenant (later Captain) Mark Phillips of The Queen's Dragoon Guards was announced on May 29, 1973, and they were married in Westminster Abbey on November 14, 1973.
Four months after their marriage, an unsuccessful attempt was made to abduct the princess, as she and Captain Phillips were being driven along the Mall on their way back to Buckingham Palace after a charity film show. The princess was unhurt, but her personal protection officer was shot and wounded during the incident and he was awarded the George Cross for his bravery.
Her marriage to Captain Phillips was dissolved in April 1992 and on December 12 the same year, she married Captain Timothy Laurence, Royal Navy, at a private ceremony at Crathie Church, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The Princess's first child was born on November 15, 1977 at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was christened Peter Mark Andrew Phillips at a service conducted in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury on December 22, 1977. The princess's second child was born on May 15, 1981, also at St. Mary's Hospital. She was christened Zara Anne Elizabeth at a service conducted in the Chapel at Windsor Castle by the Dean of Windsor on July 27, 1981. The family lives at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire.
