Princess Anne hit out at 'weird' Royal Family fans in no-nonsense rant
PRINCESS ANNE hit out at "weird" Royal Family fans who stick their phones in her face during official visits, archive reports show.
Princess Anne discusses shaking hands in 2018
Anne has made a name for herself as one of the Royal Family's hardest working members. At any point in the year she can be found in various towns and cities across the UK - and abroad - carrying out official duties. The coronavirus pandemic only briefly stopped Anne in her tracks, the Princess Royal quickly shifting her attention to online appearances and zoom calls.
This year has been different, with Anne once again on the road.
Earlier this week, she was spotted in Plymouth, and has since visited the city's new sculpture at The Box museum and art gallery.
While Anne has never complained about her workload, she has on occasion remarked on the people she meets.
Appearing in the 2018 ITV documentary series, 'Queen of the World', which explored the Queen and her role as a figure on the global stage, she discussed the intensity of royal life.
She talked of the attention and publicity that comes with a public role, and commented on the peculiarities of coming face to face with royal fans.
Of duties, she said: “It’s become a shaking hands exercise rather than a walkabout.
"Phones are bad enough, but the iPads – you can’t even see their heads. No idea who you’re talking to.”
“I either don’t bother or just say, ‘Look, if you want to ask…I suggest you put that down.’
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"It is weird. People don’t believe they’ve experienced the event unless they’ve taken a photograph."
Anne has also shown her lighter side when it comes to meeting well wishers.
Recently, she was captured joking with a pair of royal enthusiasts who went to greet her following a surprise visit.
When being told that they had arrived specifically to see her, Anne joked: "Oh, do get away!"
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Emma Dodsworth and Lisa Watkins were finishing work in Malton, North Yorkshire, when they spotted a helicopter approaching in May.
As fans of the royal family, the two women followed the helicopter to its landing spot near a local sports centre, according to The Independent.
A short time later, the pair were rewarded with the sight of Princess Anne emerging from a 4x4.
Ms Watkins, the manager of Parnaby’s clothing store in Malton, told the publication: "Emma and I, we adore the royal family so we couldn't miss it.
"We pulled up and parked the car and ran to where the helicopter was landing but there was only the pilot. We then started to talk to some security guy and they wouldn't tell us who it was but he eventually said someone would be arriving in 45 minutes.
"As soon as she got out she asked if we were going to play football as I was wearing trainers and a sweatshirt.
"We told her we were there to see her and she said 'do get away'.
"She had a cheeky grin and we laughed and I cried."