Why Princess Anne Refuses to Shake Hands at Royal Walkabouts: Inside the Princess Royal’s Candid Stance on Tradition, Tech, and Retirement

Princess Anne attending an official engagement.

Princess Anne does not shake hands with crowds at public walkabouts because she considers the modern ritual to be completely impractical. While younger working royals routinely greet cheering crowds with open palms, the Princess Royal sticks strictly to traditional protocol: attempting to touch every single hand along a barricade is an impossible expectation that detracts from real conversation.

Anne made her blunt position clear in the ITV documentary Queen of the World, questioning why public outings transformed from community greetings into what she termed a repetitive physical exercise.

“The theory was that you couldn’t shake hands with everybody, so don’t start,” Princess Anne explained. “I think the initial concept was that it was patently absurd to start shaking hands.”

That trademark pragmatism defines how Anne carries out her work as one of the hardest-working figures in public life.

Princess Anne during a public royal appearance.

The Evolution of the Royal Walkabout

Many royal watchers assume greeting crowds with personal handshakes has been an unyielding rule for generations. In truth, the practice is a modern development that Anne witnessed firsthand as royal duties evolved over the decades.

In earlier eras, walkabouts focused entirely on dialogue rather than physical contact. Royals moved past barricades, maintaining an even pace so everyone had equal access to speak with them.

“It seems to me that it’s become a shaking hands exercise rather than a walkabout, if you see what I mean—so that has changed,” Anne reflected. While she does not fault younger family members for leaning into the trend, she prefers to hold firm to the original standard.

Kate Middleton greeting members of the public along a rope line.

Prince William shaking hands with well-wishers during a walkabout.

Why Screens and Selfies Create a Barrier

Beyond handshakes, Princess Anne takes a critical view of mobile screens during personal appearances. For a royal whose role centers on genuine human connection, rows of smartphones and tablets block the very engagement public outings are meant to foster.

“I’m glad I’m not starting now, because at least you [previously] had people to talk to—now you don’t, really,” Anne stated. “Phones are bad enough, but the iPads—you can’t even see their heads! You don’t know who you’re talking to.”

When met with outstretched devices instead of eye contact, her policy is swift. She either moves right along or delivers a direct, polite request: “Look, if you want to meet us, I suggest you put that down.”

Myth vs. Reality: Royal Crowd Protocol

There is a widespread misconception that skipping handshakes or asking crowds to lower their phones is a sign of royal coldness. The reality is quite the opposite: Anne aims to preserve actual spoken connection rather than serving as a passive backdrop for a digital snapshot.

“It is weird, as people don’t believe that they’ve experienced the event unless they’ve taken photographs,” she noted, pointing out the oddity of filming someone standing directly in front of you.

Princess Anne rewearing an accessory at an event.

Contrasting Royal Approaches to Public Engagements

The gap between the traditional working approach and modern public engagement illustrates how different generations navigate official roles:

This contrast also extends behind palace doors, where Anne has shown no hesitation in challenging high-level administrative strategies.

Princess Anne attending Royal Ascot.

Pushing Back on a “Slimmed-Down” Institution

Prior to King Charles‘s coronation in May 2023, Anne openly addressed plans to reduce the active core of senior working royals. Speaking directly with CBC News, she delivered a candid assessment of the proposal.

“Well, I think the ‘slimmed-down’ [comment] was said in a day when there were a few more people around… [to] make that seem like a justifiable comment,” Anne stated. “It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I would say. I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”

Her assessment stems from raw workload realities. Anne logged an astonishing 478 royal engagements across 2025 alone, routinely topping official engagement counts and carrying substantial institutional weight.

Princess Anne attending an official event.

Why Retirement Remains Off the Table

Even after suffering a serious concussion from a horse-related incident in June 2024 that required hospitalization and three weeks away from work, stepping down permanently is not in Anne’s vocabulary.

“You’re jolly lucky… if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis, and last summer I was very close to not being,” Anne stated, reflecting on her recovery. “Take each day as it comes, they say. You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus, really.”

At 76 years old, she views ongoing duty as a lifelong commitment inherited directly from her parents. She confirmed to PA that scaling back or retiring simply is not part of the plan.

“I don’t think there’s a retirement program on this particular life,” Anne remarked. “It really isn’t written in, no. It isn’t really an option.”

Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Anne’s late mother, echoed that unrelenting dedication, observing that the princess carries on while most peers her age have long since stepped back from demanding careers.

📱 In an era obsessed with digital proof and instant selfies, Princess Anne’s insistence on putting devices away and skipping superficial rituals remains a masterclass in staying grounded.

✨ Her no-fuss, duty-first philosophy proves that public service does not require grand theatrics to make a real impression on the people you meet.

💬 Do you prefer Princess Anne’s direct, hands-off approach, or are modern royal selfies the way forward? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!