Princess Anne's 'Soft Side' Highlighted Amidst Earl Spencer's Claims

Princess Anne has been portrayed in a new light, with reports highlighting moments of warmth and affection, particularly towards her family. This comes after her brother, Earl Spencer, detailed an instance in his memoir, 'Swan Song,' where he claimed the Princess Royal made him feel 'small' during a formal meal at Buckingham Palace.

According to Earl Spencer, the incident occurred two days before the wedding of his sister, Princess Diana, to Prince Charles. He described Princess Anne as having allegedly shut him down during the meal.

However, the recent focus has shifted to Princess Anne's more tender interactions. These include instances of her supporting her son-in-law, Mike Tindall, and showing affection to her grandchildren. One notable moment captured was Princess Anne embracing rugby player Sione Tuipulotu following Scotland's Six Nations match against Ireland on March 14.

Further instances cited showcase her doting nature. Warmth was evident at her daughter Zara's 2011 wedding to Mike Tindall, where Princess Anne was seen comforting the groom's late father, Philip Tindall, who was living with Parkinson's disease.

Princess Anne was also pictured kissing her granddaughter Mia Tindall while watching Zara compete in a charity polo match in 2016.

An old clip of Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Tindall, recently shared online, also appeared to counter any perception of her being unaffectionate.

In the wake of accompanying her mother's body to London, Princess Anne also demonstrated empathy by comforting grieving children in Glasgow.