Princess Anne Didn’t Agree With Queen Elizabeth’s One Wish for Her Grandchildren—And it Left The Late Queen “Disappointed”

Princess Anne’s children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall might have been born into the Royal Family, but their mother didn’t necessarily see this as a benefit. Even though Queen Elizabeth was “anxious” to honor her grandkids with a special royal privilege, Princess Anne didn’t see eye-to-eye with her mom.

The late Queen reportedly was “left disappointed” by the Princess Royal’s choice not to give either of her children royal titles, per royal author Ingrid Seward. While the monarch had to be “persuaded,” she ended up stepping back and honoring her daughter’s wishes.

In his biography of The Princess Royal, Brian Hoey wrote that Anne thought, “in this day and age a title would be more of a hindrance than an advantage as her children try to make their way in the world.”

Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth are seen at the christening of Peter Phillips in 1977.

Queen Elizabeth standing with Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall at Royal Ascot

Peter and Zara, seen with their grandmother in 2007, don’t have royal titles.

The author added that Queen Elizabeth had been “anxious” to give Peter a royal title, especially since he was her first-born grandchild.

Hoey noted that even though he’s not a prince, Peter Phillips is “not exactly a run-of-the-mill commoner,” either. Peter, 47, and his younger sister, Zara, 44, grew up on the luxurious Gatcombe Park estate and make frequent appearances at events like Royal Ascot, polo matches and parades with their parents and royal aunts, uncles and cousins.

Peter—who is divorced from wife Autumn Kelly and shares daughters Isla and Savannah with his ex—works for a boutique sports management company and enjoys a jet-setting lifestyle. Meanwhile, Zara has followed in Princess Anne’s footsteps as an Olympic silver-medal winning equestrian and is married to former England rugby player Mike Tindall, with whom she shares three children.

Not having a title has opened up the brother/sister duo to take on endorsement deals and other jobs that members of the Royal Family normally wouldn’t be able to do. Zara, for example, has her own jewelry line, and currently serves as an ambassador for apparel brand Fairfax & Favor.