Princess Anne's husband Timothy Laurence returns to public eye after Palace confusion

King Charles hosts the Holyroodhouse Garden Party.

GB News.
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 08/07/2025

- 21:22

The retired Royal Navy officer, 70, had been notably absent from the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Sir Timothy Laurence has made his first public appearance since confusion arose over his absence from last week's Garden Party in Edinburgh.

Princess Anne's husband joined the Princess Royal and other members of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle for a State Banquet this evening.


The retired Royal Navy officer, 70, had been notably absent from the Palace of Holyroodhouse event during Royal Week in Scotland.

His last photographed appearance was on 25th June with Anya Hurlbert during the press night performance of "Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet" at Sadler's Wells Theatre.

Princess AnnePrincess Anne with her husband, Sir Tim Laurence.Getty

Sir Tim's name had been mistakenly included in a press release from Buckingham Palace, leading to expectations that he would accompany his wife to Scotland.

However, the retired Royal Navy officer was not present in photographs from the Edinburgh Palace event.

GB News understands that Sir Tim's attendance was noted down in error and that he was not expected to attend.

The mix-up created confusion when Princess Anne, whom he married in 1992 after her divorce from Captain Mark Phillips, appeared at the Garden Party without her husband of over three decades.

King Charles, Queen Camilla and Princess AnneKing Charles, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne pictured at the Garden Party.PA

The Princess Royal, 74, travelled to Scotland to join King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for Royal Week. Princess Anne stepped out with the King, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, alongside other assembled dignitaries at the Garden Party.

The event began with a salute as they stood on the Palace steps.

The Princess Royal wore an all-blue ensemble at the Edinburgh soiree.

The Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse forms part of the Royal Family's annual Scottish tour, which began on 1st July and concluded on 4th July.

Timothy LaurenceTimothy Laurence was last pictured on June 25.Getty
Princess AnnePrincess Anne wore an all-blue ensemble at the Edinburgh party.PA

Royal Week in Scotland officially began with King Charles's observance of the Ceremony of the Keys in the Palace Garden. This centuries-old ritual involves the Lord Provost presenting the Keys to the City of Edinburgh to the monarch, who then returns them for safekeeping.

During the Ceremony of the Keys, King Charles met with Service Chiefs before receiving a Royal Salute.

He then inspected the King's Bodyguard Scotland, otherwise known as the Royal Company of Archers, as they presented a Guard of Honour as part of the formal proceedings.

Elsewhere, Queen Camilla officially opened the newly rebuilt Ratho Library in Scotland. The opening marked the launch of the Edinburgh International Book Festival's Paper Trails initiative, a five-year programme aimed at bringing literature directly into local communities across Edinburgh.