The Shocking Truth: Why Princess Anne's Husbands Have No 'Royal' Title—And The Major New Honor King Charles Just Gave One

As of December 2025, the question of why Princess Anne’s husbands—past and present—do not possess the traditional royal titles of 'Prince' or 'Duke' remains a source of fascination for royal watchers globally. The simple answer is rooted in a deliberate choice and a centuries-old tradition that sees the Princess Royal’s spouses treated differently from those who marry a male heir. Unlike the husbands of other royal princesses in history, both Captain Mark Phillips and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence were offered no peerage upon marriage, and in the case of Phillips, he famously declined one.

This unique situation highlights Princess Anne's pragmatic approach to royal life, which she extended to her family. However, a significant and recent development—a major promotion bestowed by King Charles III—has given her current husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, a new, highly prestigious honor that elevates his standing within the British Honours System, even if it doesn't grant him a dynastic royal title. This recent recognition is a testament to his decades of quiet, dedicated service to the Crown and the Princess Royal.

The Two Men Who Married The Princess Royal: Complete Biographies

Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, has been married twice. Her marriages to Captain Mark Phillips and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence are notable not just for the Princess Royal's personal history, but for the distinct lack of a traditional royal title for both men, a fact that sets them apart from the husbands of her female cousins and aunts.

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Captain Mark Phillips (First Husband)

• Full Name: Mark Anthony Peter Phillips
• Born: 22 September 1948, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England
• Career: Retired Captain in the British Army, Olympic gold-medal-winning horseman (Equestrian Three-Day Event).
• Military Rank/Title: Captain (military rank), CVO (Commander of the Royal Victorian Order).
• Marriage to Princess Anne: 14 November 1973 – Divorced 23 April 1992.
• Children: Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall (née Phillips).
• Royal Title Status: Famously declined a peerage (such as an Earldom) offered by Queen Elizabeth II upon his marriage, preferring to remain a commoner.

Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence (Current Husband)

• Full Name: Timothy James Hamilton Laurence
• Born: 1 March 1955, Camberwell, London, England
• Career: Retired officer in the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral. He served as an Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II from 1986 to 1989.
• Military Rank/Title: Vice Admiral (military rank), Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).
• Marriage to Princess Anne: 12 December 1992 – Present.
• Children: None together.
• Royal Title Status: Has never been offered or received a dynastic royal title (Prince, Duke). His title of "Sir" comes from his knighthood within the Royal Victorian Order.

The Shocking Truth About Royal Titles for Non-Royal Spouses

The lack of a 'Prince' or 'Duke' title for Princess Anne's husbands is not an oversight, but a consequence of British royal tradition and the Princess Royal's own preference. This situation is one of the most distinctive aspects of her marriage arrangements compared to other senior members of the Royal Family.

The Peerage Precedent: Why No Duke or Prince?

Historically, a woman marrying into the British Royal Family automatically takes on her husband's rank and title. For instance, when Prince William married Catherine Middleton, she became the Duchess of Cambridge (and later Princess of Wales). The reverse, however, is not automatically true for men who marry a Princess of the blood.

For a Princess's husband to receive a title, the reigning monarch must actively grant him a peerage, such as an Earldom or a Dukedom. Queen Elizabeth II offered this to Captain Mark Phillips upon his marriage to Princess Anne in 1973.

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In a surprising move at the time, Phillips declined the offer. This decision meant that their children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, would also be without royal titles, a choice Princess Anne reportedly supported as it afforded her children a greater degree of privacy and normalcy.

When Princess Anne married Sir Timothy Laurence in 1992, the precedent had been set. No peerage was offered or requested, maintaining the family's tradition of title-free spouses and children. Laurence, a career naval officer, continued his service, quietly supporting his wife's duties without the formality of a royal designation.

The Distinction Between Royal and Order Titles

It is crucial to differentiate between a dynastic royal title (like Prince, Duke, or Earl) and a title granted through an Order of Chivalry, such as the Royal Victorian Order (RVO). Princess Anne's husbands have both been invested into the RVO, which is a personal gift from the sovereign for services to the monarch.

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• Captain Mark Phillips holds the title of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).
• Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence holds the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO).

The title "Sir" for Timothy Laurence is a direct result of his knighthood within this order, not his marriage to the Princess Royal. This is a common practice for distinguished non-royal individuals, especially those with long careers in the military or public service.

The Latest Royal Honor: Sir Timothy Laurence's Major Promotion

The most current and significant update regarding Princess Anne's husband's standing within the royal sphere came with a major promotion from King Charles III. This recognition underscores the importance of Sir Timothy Laurence's role as a key—though non-working—member of the extended Royal Family.

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

In a move that pleased many royal observers, King Charles III quietly promoted Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence from Knight Commander (KCVO) to Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). This promotion is a rare and prestigious honour, representing the highest rank within the Royal Victorian Order.

The Royal Victorian Order is entirely within the personal gift of the monarch and is awarded for distinguished personal service to the Sovereign. By bestowing the GCVO, King Charles III has officially recognised Sir Timothy's decades of unwavering support for Princess Anne and his own service to the Crown, including his prior role as an Equerry to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The GCVO is a very high honour, placing Sir Timothy Laurence in the same bracket as other senior royals and distinguished figures. It is an acknowledgment of his integration into the Royal Family and his increasingly visible role in supporting Princess Anne's extensive public duties, which have only increased following the accession of King Charles III.

A Title Earned, Not Inherited

The promotion to GCVO means that the correct style for Princess Anne's current husband is Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence GCVO. This title is a personal honourific, earned through merit and service, rather than a hereditary or dynastic title gained through marriage. It confirms his place as a respected and valued member of the Royal Household, even without the title of 'Prince' or 'Duke'.

The story of Princess Anne's husbands' titles is a fascinating study in the evolution of the British monarchy. It is a tale of personal choice, a desire for a degree of normalcy, and the eventual recognition of dedicated service. While neither man holds a traditional royal title, Sir Timothy Laurence's recent elevation to the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order demonstrates a significant and public appreciation from the Sovereign for his commitment to the Princess Royal and the Crown.

This pragmatic approach to titles has allowed the Princess Royal's family—including her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall—to pursue careers and lives largely outside the intense scrutiny that accompanies a royal title, a legacy that began with Captain Mark Phillips's decision and continues today with Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence's quiet, yet highly decorated, service.