Princess Anne’s Critics Answered

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 15

Princess Anne’s Critics Answered

(N.Z. Press Association^—Copyright) LONDON, July 20. “Lay off our Princess,” cried the British Sunday newspapers in chorus yesterday, after reports in their American counterparts that Princess Anne was “bored, sulky, and obviously irritated” during her recent “private” visit to Washington with Prince Charles.

The “Sunday Express’ summed up the mood of the British press in an editorial which said: “American reporters should not get upset because Princess Anne does not smile all the time. “There are hordes of people in the public eye. from politicians to film stars, who can switch on toothpaste smiles at the click of a camera.

“It signifies nothing. “Princess Anne Is an extremely attractive girl, not yet 20, who behaves in a natural, unaffected manner When she smiles, as she so often does, she is genuinely amused: she is sincerely happy. “Don’t the Americans prefer it that way?” The “Daily Telegraph” re-

porter who was with Prince Charles and Princess Anne in Washington said that President and Mrs Nixon had planned the visit on the lines of a Presidential campaign The Princess had asked to go riding, visit a discotheque and do some shopping. Instead. she had been obliged to spend an hour touring the Capitol, which obviously bored her. “It was on a tour of the Senate that she silently rebuked Mr John McCormack, the Speaker of the House. In his enthusiasm, he tried to steer the Princess by her elbow. Princess Anne Indicated that this was not protocol by firmly placing her arms across her chest.” The “News of the World” said simply; “The ballyhoo just got Anne down."