Princess Anne pays tribute to the Queen with childhood passion

Princess Anne has paid tribute to both the Queen and Prince Charles on her latest royal engagement, by planting a tree in honor of her mother's Platinum Jubilee year. 

• Princess Anne paid tribute to the Queen during her latest royal engagement by enjoying one of her favorite childhood hobbies—gardening. 
• The Princess Royal and her brother, Prince Charles, have been fans of horticulture ever since they were given their own vegetable patch at Buckingham Palace as children.
• In other royal news, Queen’s breakfast features ‘fascinating’ childhood favorite and American cereal with a fruity twist.
  

Princess Anne welcomed the opportunity to enjoy her favorite childhood hobby on her most recent royal engagement—gardening. 

The 71-year-old visited a primary school in Swindon this week to help its students plant a tree in its yard, in honor of her mother's recent milestone anniversary as British sovereign. 

The Queen's Green Canopy, a unique tree-planting initiative, was launched in October to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022. People across the United Kingdom have been invited to get digging in commemoration of Her Majesty's 70-year-long reign—and to enhance their surroundings for future generations to come. 

The Princess Royal arrived at Watchfield Primary School in Oxfordshire on Wednesday, where she was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, Marjorie Glasgow, and its Deputy-Lieutenant, Jane Cranston.

The hardworking royal was then treated to a guided tour of the school, which included a peek at its library/sensory room, its English as an Additional Language (EAL) classroom, and its bustling main hall. 

Situated next to the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Watchfield's student body is predominantly made up of both British and international military children. It has a strong emphasis on teaching English to non-native speakers, catering to pupils from over 60 countries with a combined total of 32 languages. 

“It was a privilege to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Watchfield Primary School, to learn more about our unique and wonderful school and to find out exactly what it is that enables us to ‘SOAR’.  We were very proud of all the children who were able to showcase how they are Successful, Original, Aspirational and Resilient," headteacher Georgina Wintle said. 

Princess Anne wrapped up the exciting visit by joining three pupils from the school's eco-council to plant a cherry tree, before heading to the Shrivenham Memorial Hall to meet the Covid 19 Resilience Group. 

Wearing a green plaid coat and black skirt, the second eldest of the Queen's children looked delighted to assist as she posed for photographs with the shovel in hand. Her brother, Prince Charles, has previously spoken of how he and Anne bonded over their mutual fascination with gardening in childhood. 

"My sister and I had a little vegetable patch in the back of some border somewhere,” he revealed during a BBC interview with Simon Armitage last August. “We had great fun trying to grow tomatoes rather unsuccessfully and things like that.”