Princess talks to teenagers about privacy and the press

Press, 1 November 1984, Page 8

Princess talks to teenagers about privacy and the press

NZPA-PA London Princess Anne has confessed that she sometimes wished she was not a member of the Royal Family. The reason was the constant interest in her every movement. She described how once when she was out shopping, a woman next to her at the counter innocently remarked: “You look awfully like Princess Anne.” The Princess told the story on the 8.8. C. Scotland television programme “Open to Question,” a series in which public figures answer questions from a panel of 70 teenagers. Asked if she ever wished she was not a Royal, she said: “Yes, you do just think wouldn’t it be nice if people weren’t so interested.

“But equally, because you are born into the family, it’s only a passing thought. I don’t think that would be

something you would consider for any length of time." One of the disadvantages of being a Royal was that people were permanently interested “in things you don’t find the least bit interesting, or are none of their business.”

She added: “Every time you go out of the door or do something there’s someone around who wants to do something or record the happy occasion.” The media were not a problem at official functions, where there was “very much a business relationship.”

But their attention at events like competitions and riding, which she regarded as part of her private life, would always be a “bone of contention.” She offered a shrewd explanation as to why media problems were not so acute around her Gatcombe Park

home: “It’s far enough from London for most reporters ... and the pubs are fairly widely scattered in that area.”

The Princess spoke about Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson’s quip that he would like her to have his babies.

“Mr Thompson has a very unique sense of humour — but it is a sense of humour.

“I felt everybody completely forgot their sense of humour over the incident. I can’t understand how they managed to get so annoyed about it.” Of her work for the Save the Children Fund, she said one of the strengths of that charity was that it set itself specific objectives. “I think there is a need in this day and age for charitties to specialise, because the areas are too great. You should stick to that area you are good at,” she addled.