Princess Anne demonstrated her characteristic quick wit during her Australian visit when she deftly sidestepped an awkward reference to her controversial brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Upon being told by a serviceman that he had previously encountered her "brother", Anne promptly responded: "Which one? I have three."
The clever retort enabled the 75-year-old royal to avoid discussing Andrew, whose name has become increasingly problematic for the monarchy.
Her response drew laughter from those present, effectively deflecting attention from the former duke, who faced intense scrutiny following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Princess Anne brilliantly avoids mentioning Andrew after ‘brother’ reference
|GETTY
The exchange occurred at a garden party marking the centenary of the Royal Australian Signal Corps, where the Princess Royal met numerous military personnel.
James Thorpe, who heads the Royal Australian Regiment Association, initiated the conversation by mentioning his previous encounter with her brother.
When Mr Thorpe clarified his reference by stating: "Ah, that's the main one, Ma'am," the princess responded with laughter.
The light-hearted moment allowed Anne to navigate the potentially uncomfortable topic whilst maintaining the celebratory atmosphere of the military anniversary event.
Princess Anne is in Australia on a royal tour
|GETTY
The incident demonstrates how senior royals are managing public interactions amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Andrew.
Recent developments have seen Andrew, who previously held the title of Prince, lose his remaining royal designations and receive formal notice to surrender his Crown Estate lease and leave Royal Lodge, his home since 2003.
The former prince has featured prominently in media coverage due to his connections with Epstein.
The monarchy has faced increasing pressure to address what members knew about Andrew's relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Princess Anne meeting soldiers from the Australian Defence Force at Gallipoli Barracks
|REUTERS
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Princess Anne met numerous military personnel
|REUTERS
This scrutiny challenges the Royal Family's traditional approach of "never complain, never explain," forcing them to navigate difficult public enquiries about the disgraced former prince during official engagements.
Prince William encountered a similar situation during his recent Brazilian visit when CNN's Christiane Amanpour pressed him about recent family developments.
When asked to elaborate on his comment to Eugene Levy about "change" being on his agenda, particularly given family circumstances, William skilfully redirected the discussion.
Rather than addressing the implied reference to his uncle, William focused on the Earthshot Prize, stating: "I think the Earthshot Prize is a classic example of change. Rather than talk about it, we're doing it."
He emphasised supporting environmental innovators as "the true, actual heroes of our time," successfully steering the conversation away from family controversies.