The oldest daughter of the Queen in 1973 was not likely to assume the Throne as younger male siblings took precedence. That does not mean Anne, Princess Royal’s marriage to Calvary Captain and Olympic Gold medalist Mark Phillips was not worth broadcasting around the world to give a peak at a different sort of life. Maybe that life wasn’t so different after all as infidelities on both sides lead to divorce. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Deciding on a close up face shot was an interesting choice by the stamp designer. It might have worked better with better looking people. On the other hand, Royal style over the top military uniforms and hyper traditional wedding dresses would have annoyed or seemed political in 1973.
Todays stamp is issue A250, a 3 and a half penny stamp issued by Great Britain on November 14th, 1973. It was a two stamp issue in different denominations and colour tints with the same picture. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether used or unused.
Untitled Mark Phillips was commissioned as a junior officer into the 1st, the Queens Dragoon Guards, cavalry regiment in 1969. The Regiment still exists and mainly recruits from Wales. It is currently light cavalry with Jackal Armoured Cars. In 1969, the Regiment had tanks but Phillips was a horseman. He was an alternate on Britain’s 1968 Equestrian Team and won a gold with the team in 1972. He was still on the team as late as 1988. He met Princess Anne at horsing events. After the marriage, Phillips was promoted early to Captain and served as a military aide de camp to Queen Elizabeth. He declined a peerage offered by the Queen and this meant that the couples two children were not eligible for courtesy titles. Queen Elizabeth gifted the couple a country house, Gatcombe Park, with elaborate horse facilities.
The pomp of the wedding attracted some unwanted attention to Princess Anne. In February 1974 her Austin Princess IV limo was forced to the side of the road by a armed would be kidnapper Ian Ball in a Ford Escort. Ball shot 4 people trying to defend the Princess. He intended to hold her for ransom and then give the proceeds to the National Health Service. He instructed her to get out of the limousine but she replied that was “Not Bloody Likely”. She and her lady in waiting eventually escaped out of the other side of the limo and lead away by a passerby. The Queen had many medals to hand out to Anne’s many defenders. Ball has been in a mental hospital since.
The marriage of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips did not last. In 1985, Phillips fathered a child out of wedlock with a New Zealand art teacher who later sued for paternity. Princess Anne herself had an affair with a crewman on the then Royal Yacht Britannia. He is now her second husband and an Admiral. Her second marriage had no related stamp issue at least in Great Britain.
Phillip’s second marriage was unsuccessful. He married Sandy Pflueger in 1997 with whom he fathered another daughter. She was from Hawaii, the daughter of a car dealer, and a member of the American Dressage team. The couple lived in Britain on the grounds of Gatcombe Park, where Anne still resides. In 2012 the couple divorced as the second Mrs. Phillips had taken up with a female. With the children grown up, Philips has now moved to America. Phillips received a divorce settlement of 3 million pounds from Princess Anne, which is about 20 percent of his net worth.
Well my drink is empty and I will pour another for Anne, Princess Royal, for her active service to Britain. The idea of hyping out of the line Royal Weddings might require a rethink however. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.