Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, has been making headlines recently not for her own engagements, but for the status of her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence.
Despite their marriage in 1992 and regular joint appearances at Royal events, Sir Timothy is not officially recognized as a working member of the Royal Family.
While he accompanies Anne on her many official duties, he is listed in the Court Circular as being “accompanied” rather than acknowledged as a working Royal in his own right.
This situation echoes Anne’s previous marriage to Captain Mark Phillips, who also declined a Royal title to ensure that their children, Peter and Zara, would not receive HRH titles.
Similarly, when Anne married Sir Timothy in 1992, he did not receive a title either.
Royal commentator and editor of Royalcentral.co.uk, Charlie Proctor, has been vocal about the need for King Charles III to formally recognize Sir Timothy as a working Royal.
Proctor argues that this recognition would not disrupt the Royal calendar, as Sir Timothy could continue to accompany Anne to events but would be acknowledged for his contributions in the Court Circular.
Furthermore, granting him official status as a working Royal would enable Sir Timothy to pursue charitable endeavors independently.
Proctor highlighted Sir Timothy’s interests in property and regeneration, as well as his past roles as chairman of the English Heritage Trust and vice-chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The debate surrounding Sir Timothy’s status has sparked discussions among Royal enthusiasts and commentators alike.
Many are supportive of the idea, believing that Sir Timothy’s dedication to Royal duties and charitable work merits formal recognition.
