Anne's down-to-earth move praised by fans as she gets huge royal tour welcome

10 January 2024 , 10:27

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Princess Anne arrives in Sri Lanka this morning (Image: PA)

Princess Anne has kicked off the Royal Family's first overseas tour of 2024 - and won praise from fans for a down-to-earth move.

The Princess Royal received a huge welcome in Sri Lanka earlier today when she arrived in the country for a three-day visit and was treated to a dazzling performance by traditional dancers. A large group of dancers and musicians performed for the couple with drummers playing a hypnotic beat in the hot and humid conditions.

But royal fans couldn't help but notice that as she and her husband left the commercial airline flight from London, they carried some of their own bags off the plane. Anne could be seen with a bag in each hand and a handbag as she walked down the plane's steps.

Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence carried their own bags off the plane (PA)

Anne is on a three day visit to Sri Lanka (AFP via Getty Images)

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one wrote: "Princess Anne is no nonsense and perfectly able to carry her own bags aboard! Love it!!" While another wrote: "She's even carrying her own bags that’s why the HRH Princess Royal, Princess Anne is a boss and so loved."

Anne is visiting the country at the request of the Foreign Office to celebrate the UK's ties with the Commonwealth country. The trip will mark the UK's bilateral relations with the nation and will include a meeting later with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and First Lady Maithree Wickremesinghe.

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Anne is often dubbed King Charles' right-hand woman (PA)

Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, was among the dignitaries who formally welcomed the princess and said afterwards: "This visit is the best possible way to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka."

Anne will undertake engagements and meet local communities and faith groups in the capital Colombo, the city of Kandy in the centre of Sri Lanka, and Jaffna on the northern tip of the country, home to many of the country's Tamil community, from Wednesday to Friday. Mr Patrick added: "That's the aim, to show her as much of the country, as much of the diversity as we can, and we think it’s the first visit by a member of the royal family to Jaffna, certainly in many many years, so that will be historic."

The princess, 73, has been dubbed King Charles' "right-hand woman" thanks to her support for her brother, and her reputation as one of the hardest-working royals in his slimmed-down monarchy.

The King and Queen Camilla are expected to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa in October. There was no major joint official overseas tour for the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2023, but William and Kate are reported to be planning to travel to Italy for an official visit this spring.

Jennifer Newton