Princess Anne stepped down on January 8 as one of the first royals to return to action for 2026.
She visited Oxford as honorary president of the Oxford Farming Conference, which has become something of a winter tradition for the palace’s most indefatigable royal.
Rather than attending pomp and ceremony, Anne joined a gathering of the essentials of Britain’s farmers, industry leaders and policy thinkers who are thinking about the future of food, sustainability and rural life.
The conference itself was held at the historic examination schools in Oxford city centre.
Sources close to the event say she took part in lively discussions, listened to speakers debate topics ranging from land management to innovation, and rubbed shoulders with delegates long enough for hands-on conversation outside of the usual royal photo ops.
As Honorary President, Anne has been an integral part of the Oxford agricultural circle for years, championing a sector that relies as much on resilience and innovation as it does on tradition.
One delegate told FarmingUK that his comments at previous conferences have inspired growers trying to balance economic pressure and environmental management.
The princess reminded the audience that beyond hard work, she also had a keen sense of humor.
A video of an official engagement at the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Center went viral recently, showing the 75-year-old cracking jokes while marking the 35th anniversary of the London-based equine charity.
Speaking to reporters before cutting the celebration cake, Anne joked: “I hope you all had a chance to see this cake because it really is beautiful.
The instructions are that you will eat it if I cut it. Otherwise, it’s just legalized vandalism. So enjoy the cake!
The crowd burst into laughter and social media users were quick to offer praise.
“I love her,” one wrote, while another noted that she’s “dry like her dad, cheeky like her mom.”
Anne, who is vice-patron of the British Horse Society, visited the center alongside actor and BHS president Martin Clunes and chief executive James Hick, meeting volunteers who support equine therapy for physically disabled children.
She carried her own umbrella, proving that practicality goes hand in hand with good humor.
The visit was particularly poignant, just three days after her brother, King Charles, publicly shared his cancer diagnosis.
