Home US Princess Royal’s ‘money-saving’ wedding: how Anne was already wearing her bridal clothes six months before the big day

Princess Royal’s ‘money-saving’ wedding: how Anne was already wearing her bridal clothes six months before the big day

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Princess Anne leaves the church today after marrying Sir Timothy Laurence 32 years ago

Princess Anne is known for wearing her clothes effortlessly and was even thrifty on her wedding day.

The Princess Royal wore the same jacket and skirt she wore at Royal Ascot months before marrying Sir Timothy Laurence.

They married 32 years ago today, at Crathie Kirk, Balmoral and Anne walked down the aisle in a cream ensemble, paired with a silk-satin blouse.

“After her wedding date was set, the woman who feels more at home in jodhpurs, riding boots and tweed jackets searched her wardrobe and brought the suit back to life for the low-key wedding ceremony,” the Daily Mail reported at the time.

Perfect for a cold Scottish winter day, the £400 Tom Bowker jacket and skirt is made from wool crepe.

Earlier that year at Royal Ascot, the princess paired the outfit with a straw hat, white shoes and her hair up.

During her wedding she went for a more romantic look and wore her hair down – styled by herself.

Sir Timothy wore his naval uniform and traditional Scottish bagpipes played as the newlyweds left the church for their post-ceremony celebration at Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral estate.

Princess Anne leaves the church today after marrying Sir Timothy Laurence 32 years ago

The Princess Royal wore the same suit and skirt as her wedding outfit months earlier at Royal Ascot in June 1992

The Princess Royal wore the same suit and skirt as her wedding outfit months earlier at Royal Ascot in June 1992

The elegant yet understated outfit matched the tone of the private ceremony, which was very different from her first wedding at Westminster Abbey.

Only 30 guests attended, including her parents, the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, her children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.

It came months after the princess’ divorce from her first husband, Mark Phillips, in April 1992. The couple had been separated since 1989.

Sir Timothy was first introduced to the royal circle when he became the Queen’s Equerry in 1986.

Anne was still married to Mark at the time, but a link between the Princess and her future husband was first noticed when Anne invited him to become a trustee of her charity, The Princess Royal Trust, in 1988.

By this time, her relationship with Mark Philips had hit the rocks and things seemed to escalate when the existence of a series of letters written by Sir Timothy to Anne became public knowledge.

The letters had been stolen from Anne’s briefcase and delivered to The Sun. Instead of publishing them, the newspaper handed them over to the police.

A Palace spokesperson said at the time: ‘We have been advised of this matter by the police and all security matters are primarily the responsibility of Scotland Yard.’

Anne with her husband, Sir Timothy, on their wedding day. Anne wears a £400 Tom Bowker jacket and skirt

Anne with her husband, Sir Timothy, on their wedding day. Anne wears a £400 Tom Bowker jacket and skirt

The newlyweds ride after their wedding at Crathie Kirk Church in 1992

The newlyweds ride after their wedding at Crathie Kirk Church in 1992

The Daily Mail's coverage of Anne's wedding outfit on December 14, 1992

The Daily Mail’s coverage of Anne’s wedding outfit on December 14, 1992

Within days of the letters appearing, the Queen showed her support for Sir Timothy by having him at her side at public meetings.

However, it was said that Prince Philip was less forgiving and had been angry that a servant of the Queen had behaved this way with his married daughter.

But that didn’t stop Sir Timothy’s romance with Anne from blossoming as her marriage to Mark Phillips ended.

Anne and Mark announced their divorce at the end of August 1989 and in April 1992 the Palace announced that Anne had filed for divorce.

Anne and Sir Timothy went public with their romance in May 1992, a fortnight after her divorce was finalized. The couple took to the floor together at the Royal Caledonian Ball in London for a series of dances.

The Church of England did not allow the remarriage of divorced women, so because of Anne’s divorce, the couple married in the Scottish Presbyterian Church.

Their marriage provided a happy ending to what the queen described as her ‘annus horribilis’.

A member of the public waiting outside the church to catch a glimpse of the wedding

A member of the public waiting outside the church to catch a glimpse of the wedding

Peter Phillips, Sir Timothy, Anne, Prince Philip, Zara Tindall and the Queen on December 12, 1992

Peter Phillips, Sir Timothy, Anne, Prince Philip, Zara Tindall and the Queen on December 12, 1992

Philip takes Anne to church for her wedding ceremony to Sir Timothy

Philip takes Anne to church for her wedding ceremony to Sir Timothy

The royal family had gone through a series of breakups, with Prince Charles and Princess Diana announcing their divorce in December 1992.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson split in March of the same year.

Princess Anne and Sir Timothy now live together in Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire.

Anne’s two children from her first marriage, Peter Philips and Zara Tindall, also live on the 700-acre estate with their respective partners and children.

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