Anne was born third in the line of succession to the British throne and is now 18th, [ 2 ] [ b ] and has been, since , Princess Royal , a title held for life. Born at Clarence House , Anne was educated at Benenden School and began undertaking royal duties upon reaching adulthood. She became a respected equestrian , winning one gold medal in and two silver medals in at the European Eventing Championships. Anne performs official duties and engagements on behalf of the monarch.
She has been associated with Save the Children for over fifty years and has visited a number of its projects. Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in ; they separated in and divorced in They have two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall , and five grandchildren.
Within months of her divorce in , Anne married Commander later Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence , whom she had met while he served as her mother's equerry between and Anne was born at a. A gun salute in Hyde Park signaled the birth. She rose to second in after her grandfather's death and her mother's accession; she is currently 17th in line. Peebles was responsible for Anne's early education at Buckingham Palace. A Girl Guides company, the 1st Buckingham Palace Company to include the Holy Trinity Brompton Brownie pack, was re-formed in May , specifically so that, as her mother and aunt had done as children, Anne could socialise with girls her own age.
The company was active until , when Anne went to boarding school. For more than five years, Anne also competed with the British eventing team, winning a silver medal in both individual and team disciplines in the European Eventing Championship. In June , Anne was taken to Southmead Hospital with minor injuries and concussion believed to be caused by impact with a horse's legs or head. Anne met Mark Phillips , a lieutenant in the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards , in at a party for horse lovers.
As was customary for untitled men marrying into the royal family, Phillips was offered an earldom , which he declined; [ 36 ] consequently their children were born without titles.
