Princess Anne's Australian Tour Follows Prince Andrew's Fall from Grace

Princess Anne is set to arrive in Australia just days after her brother, Prince Andrew, was officially stripped of his royal title - a move that has reignited controversy around the monarchy.

The King's sister, often praised as the hardest-working member of the royal family, will spend four days in Australia with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. The visit will mark 100 years of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, with official events planned in Sydney and Brisbane, including Remembrance Day services.

The trip - one of the royal family's first overseas engagements since King Charles removed Andrew's title - is believed to have been organised well before the decision.

University of Sydney monarchy expert Associate Professor Cindy McCreery said the visit could offer a welcome distraction for the royal family.

"The best-case scenario for the monarchy is to highlight what people want to see - a hardworking royal warmly received by the public," McCreery said.
"Princess Anne is highly respected in Australia, so I don't think she'll face much personal backlash over her brother's ties to Jeffrey Epstein."

King Charles III confirmed in late October that he had stripped Prince Andrew of his title and ordered him to vacate his royal residence after fresh details emerged about his association with the convicted sex offender.

McCreery said the scandal had damaged public trust in the monarchy.

"It raises questions about what the King knew, whether he acted quickly enough, or if he's simply responding to public and media pressure rather than showing genuine concern for victims," she said.

Australian Monarchist League national chairman Philip Benwell said Princess Anne's long-standing relationship with Australia could help steer attention away from the controversy.

"Princess Anne and the King have strong connections with Australia, but Prince Andrew's links are limited," he said.
"It's tremendous that she's visiting - she's always well received here."

While the visit is unlikely to draw the same crowds as the King and Queen's 2024 tour, it's expected to showcase the Princess Royal's enduring popularity and commitment to public service.