Princess Anne will mark her 75th birthday next month by embarking on her customary sailing expedition with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, according to new claims.
The couple are understood to be planning to navigate the waters off western Scotland for approximately 10 days without any accompanying staff.
This maritime tradition represents a cherished ritual for the royal couple, who undertake similar voyages each May and August.
Friends describe these sailing trips as the princess's "happy place" and view them as evidence of the couple's enduring partnership.
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|Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence will celebrate her birthday privately with a sailing trip around Scotland
"How many couples could go out to sea that often, just the two of them, and still be speaking to each other? She loves it," observed a friend of the couple, per The Times.
The birthday voyage will conclude with Princess Anne joining the King at Balmoral, maintaining her usual August routine.
Anne and Sir Tim are not the only couple in royal circles marking relationship milestones in Scotland, with the Prince and Princess of Wales marking their 14th wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull earlier this year.
Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, have also recently returned from a trip north of the border as they celebrated five years of marriage.
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|The royal couple the 10-day trip solo without any staff present
Royal aides have abandoned attempts to organise birthday celebrations after the princess rejected every proposal for marking the milestone, according to the publication.
She declined suggestions for new official photographs and media interviews, avoiding multiple planning meetings with palace staff.
"She told us she would do things for birthdays that had 'zeroes, but not for the fives'," revealed one aide after receiving firm instructions against any fanfare.
The sole authorised commemoration is a silver £5 coin released by the Royal Mint on Friday, it bears her likeness and a simple inscription reading: "The Princess Royal. Celebrating 75 years. Duty and devotion."
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|The Princess Royal has brushed away any major Royal Family celebrations of her upcoming birthday
The Princess did make one minor concession, hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace last month for over 100 of her charitable organisations.
She told attendees that the gathering was arranged to learn about their work rather than celebrate her birthday.
Anne also intends to remain in active service until reaching 80, before beginning a gradual reduction in her commitments.
Her ultimate goal is to follow her late father's example by stepping back completely at 90.
"She has said her plan is to push on (with work) until she is 80, then start winding down a bit, and then copy the (late) Duke of Edinburgh and wind down completely at 90," disclosed someone familiar with the princess's thinking.
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|Anne is determined to continue her royal duties until she turns 90
Prince Philip concluded his public duties in 2017 at 96, marking his retirement with a final solo appearance at Buckingham Palace.
The source explained that Princess Anne wishes to retire whilst maintaining good health to enjoy time at her Gloucestershire estate.
Her husband's concerns about preventing burnout have influenced this decision.
Despite approaching her mid-seventies, Princess Anne maintained her position as the monarchy's most industrious member last year, completing 474 official engagements. The King followed with 372 appearances.