King Charles' sister misjudged by American press during early royal tour
Princess Anne, long recognized as the most dedicated member of the royal family, once found herself at the center of criticism during her first official visit to the United States—a moment that has since been revisited with greater understanding.
In 1970, Anne joined her brother Charles, then Prince of Wales, on a high-profile tour of North America, which included a visit to Washington, D.C., where they met President Richard Nixon. While the trip was meant to strengthen transatlantic ties, Anne's reserved demeanour caught the attention of the U.S. average.
One particular moment sparked headlines when the Princess Royal declined to engage with a reporter's question about the Washington Monument, curtly stating, “I don't do interviews.” Her composed and serious expression was interpreted as unfriendly, leading to unflattering coverage from the American press, who felt she didn't embody the cheerful charm they expected from a royal visitor.
However, insiders later clarified the situation, pointing out that Anne may have been fatigued after an extensive ten-day tour of Canada prior to arriving in the U.S. In the Channel 5 documentary Princess Anne: A Quite Remarkable Royal, royal correspondent Victoria Murphy described the trip as “challenging,” noting that Anne was unfairly criticized for not smiling enough.
Royal commentator Wesley Kerr offered further insight, explaining that Anne's natural expression is often misread. “Her resting expression isn't smiling and happiness, so I think there was some criticism from the US press that she wasn't a fairytale princess, that she was perhaps a bit surly,” he noted.
Though her initial appearance in the U.S. may have been met with misunderstanding, Princess Anne's decades of unrelenting service have since cemented her as one of the most respected figures in the monarchy—both at home and abroad.
