She declines to identify herself as a feminist; rather she says she wants to see every young person achieve their full potential. She became patron of Opportunity International U.K. (which helps young entrepreneurs in some of the poorest countries in Africa) in 1998 to do just that, but she also remains steadfastly loyal to her oldest charities and is deeply proud of her 50 years of work with Save the Children, for which she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. But she says its not her legacy thats important but whether the organization as a whole has made the sort of difference that it really wants to. So, you know, you look at the Save the Childrens adverts and you think, Has nothing improved? When actually, yes it has, but that doesnt get you any more funding.

I dont think this younger generation [of royals] probably understands what I was doing in the past.

Its not just about, Can I get a tick in the box for doing this? No, its about serving. It comes from an example from both my parents way of working and where they saw their role being. I mean, my father served. It was a more direct form of service, I suppose you could argue. And the queens has been a lifelong service in a slightly different way, but they both have that perspective of service which is about working with people. Remarkably for someone who has always seemed so driven and confident, it took her time to find her voice on the world stage. It took me probably 10 years before I really felt confident enough to contribute to Save the Childrens public debates, because you needed to understand how it works on the ground and that needed a very wide coverage. So my early trips were really important.

And she worries that the younger generation of royals may be in too much of a hurry to change the royal familys tried and tested approach when it comes to philanthropy. Describing herself as the boring old fuddy-duddy at the back saying, Dont forget the basics, she cautions, I dont think this younger generation probably understands what I was doing in the past and its often true, isnt it? You dont necessarily look at the previous generation and say, Oh, you did that? Or, You went there? Nowadays, theyre much more looking for, Oh lets do it a new way. And Im already at the stage, Please do not reinvent that particular wheel. Weve been there, done that. Some of these things dont work. You may need to go back to basics.

Over the years the princess has traveled extensively, clocking up visits to Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina with Save the Children, but she has reluctantly scaled back her overseas travel in part because of logistics and in part because the younger royals do the lions share of overseas work.

She has plannedpandemic permittingto be in the States this fall to visit the New York branch of the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity of which she is president, and the National Lighthouse Museum in Staten Island, which has asked her to be its new patron. It was very kind of them to ask, she says, adding that lighthouses have always fascinated her. How [Robert] Stevenson built those lighthouses [along the coast of Scotland] is just phenomenal. Theyre very important and need to be maintained, and thats a part of the maritime sector Im interested in, and I like trying to raise that profile.

Being at sea is a personal pleasure and on the rare occasions she does get time off, she enjoys sailing up the West Coast of Britain with her husband, Vice Admiral Laurence.

Its just my husband and I, she smiles.

This summer had been set to be a busy one, if travel and social restrictions are relaxed, so the high seas may have to wait. (At press time, the Prince of Wales had tested positive for coronavirus. Princess Anne was safe and well at her home Gatcombe Park, and following government guidelines.) The queen is rumored to be planning a special birthday celebration for her daughter (who turns 70 on August 15) while courtiers are gathering representatives from her many charities and organizations for a special get-together at Buckingham Palace. And yet, the princess is just like anyone else reflecting on a milestone birthday. Well, it would be nice if it were just another year passed, she says, but I dont think thats going to happen.

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Princess Annes Interview on Prince Andrew, Harry and Meghan & Life as a Royal - Vanity Fair