The Princess Royal’s son Peter Phillips has revealed how he was given a ‘clip round the ear’ before Buckingham Palace balcony appearances as a young boy.
The Queen’s eldest grandchild, 42, made the remarks in a new ITV documentary about Princess Anne ahead of her 70th birthday, which is set to air this Wednesday.
Phillips is seem admitting that Princess Anne was not averse to laying down the law just before the royal family‘s famous balcony appearances.
The documentary, Princess Royal: Anne at 70, which airs ahead of her milestone birthday in August also sees Anne reveal her views about one of social media’s most popular platforms, Twitter, saying ‘I wouldn’t go anywhere near it if you paid me frankly.’
Many royals, including Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry all have social media accounts but Princess Anne’s work is shared on the Queen’s Royal Family platforms.
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The Princess Royal’s son Peter Phillips (pictured on March 13, 2020) has revealed he would be given a ‘clip round the ear’ before Buckingham Palace balcony appearances as a child
Best behaviour please! Prince William (in front of the Queen) with his cousin Zara (pictured left), and Peter and Harry (pictured right) on the balcony in 1986
Appearing on the show alongside his younger sister, Zara Tindall, 39, Peter recalled: ‘You then get a clip round the ear and say right, “behave yourself, you know, we’re going out on the balcony. Don’t pick your nose and you know, don’t yawn”‘.
Zara admitted that as children, they often saw the special balcony occasions – such as the Queen’s Trooping the Colour – as an opportunity to have ‘as much fun as possible’ with their cousins, including Prince William, 38, and Prince Harry, 35.
She said: ‘For me, family occasions were all about hanging out with our cousins and just having as much fun as possible.’
In recent years, Peter’s own children Isla, eight, and Savannah, nine, have been seen larking around with Prince George, seven, during their balcony appearances.
In 2018, Savannah kept crowds amused by covering the young future king’s mouth with her hand as the national anthem was played.
In recent years, Peter’s own children Isla, eight, and Savannah (pictured together right), nine, have been seen larking around with Prince George (pictured left in front of Prince William), seven, during their balcony appearances. Pictured, the royal family together in June 2019 for Trooping the Colour
Appearing on the show alongside his younger sister Zara Tindall (pictured together on the programme), Peter recalled: ‘You then get a clip round the ear and say right, behave yourself, you know, we’re going out on the balcony. Don’t pick your nose and you know, don’t yawn’
Elsewhere, the programme also sheds light on Princess Anne’s school years, with stories of the young princess breaking out with friends to buy fish and chips.
The Queen’s daughter also talks candidly about living with the ‘pressures’ of being a member of the royal family, saying it is ‘hard’.
Commenting on social media Anne says: ‘With online technology … being in touch is one thing but it’s not quite the same. The ability to meet people, that’s what makes the difference.
‘I mean, I know what Twitter is but I wouldn’t go anywhere near it if you paid me frankly. But that’s a slightly different issue.’
Anne was followed for more than a year by film-makers for the documentary, which will feature unseen family footage and conversations with the princess herself, her children and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Elsewhere, the programme also sheds light on Princess Anne’s (pictured) school years, with stories of the young princess breaking out with friends to buy fish and chips
Anne’s children (pictured) famously do not have the title princess or prince like their cousins, and work for a living. Zara said in the documentary: ‘I think it made us fight harder as well, to try and be as successful as we could be’
The princess also discusses the attempted armed kidnap she endured in 1974, and those closest to her speak about the highs and lows of her life.
Anne’s children famously do not have the title princess or prince like their cousins, and work for a living.
Zara said in the documentary: ‘I think it made us fight harder as well, to try and be as successful as we could be.’
She added laughing: ‘So I definitely, you know I’m very, we’re very grateful to her not giving us a title anyway.’
Her mother said: ‘As a member of the royal family, living with that sort of pressure is, is hard and the expectations that come with it is hard.
The princess (above in January this year) also discusses the attempted armed kidnap she endured in 1974, and those closest to her speak about the highs and lows of her life
The Queen’s daughter (pictured during the documentary on a video call) also talks candidly about living with the ‘pressures’ of being a member of the royal family, saying it is ‘hard’
‘And that might have been at the bottom of the list, that it may be less difficult for you. But actually, understanding where they sit within the family and what happens next, it made much more sense.’
Anne was taught at home by Catherine Peebles, a governess who also held classes for her brother the Prince of Wales, but the princess asked the Queen to go to school and in 1963 was sent to Benenden a boarding School for girls in Kent.
An old school friend of Anne’s, Sandra de Laszlo, told the story of their secret trips to the chippy.
She said: ‘There was a really lovely security officer and we did lead him a bit of a dance. It was rather fun to break out of school and go to the fish and chip shop and try to escape this loyal detective who was supposed to be looking after her.
‘And, anyway we did that a few times. She was a very normal teenager. She was sensible and fun.’
Anne: The Princess Royal airs on 29th July at 9pm on ITV1