It is safe to say that the royals do not hold back when it comes to weddings. But once the ceremonies are over and the partying stops, it is time for the newlyweds to head off on a honeymoon together. Usually, it gives the royals a little more privacy in their love bubble, with fewer details released to the public.
One post-wedding vacation that is often forgotten in the royal archives is that of King Charles's sister and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. Though it was not meant to be for Mark Phillips and Anne, as they divorced in April 1992 after 18 years of marriage, she found love a second time when she remarried Sir Timothy Laurence just months later in December 1992.
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As of 2026, the couple of 33 years live in a stunning manor house at Gatcombe Park, with a reported five main bedrooms and four secondary bedrooms to sleep themselves and their guests. However, the Princess Royal has not always had a plethora of choice (or space!) when it comes to her sleeping arrangements.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Before she met Tim, Anne embarked on her first honeymoon with her first husband while he was serving on board the Royal Yacht Britannia.
In a sweet nod to their love story and Mark's naval career, the couple chose to return to the iconic ship for their honeymoon in 1973. Following their royal wedding at Westminster Abbey, the late Queen Elizabeth II's daughter and her new husband travelled to Scotland to board the ship, which, despite being 412 feet long, only has bedrooms with single beds.
Unique sleeping arrangements
© Tim Graham
Noting the fact that Anne's parents, the late Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, had separate bedrooms on board, the website adds: "Like all cabins on Britannia their bedrooms were furnished with only single beds, which presented challenges when the Yacht was used for honeymoons.
"When Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips were touring the West Indies, in 1973, after their wedding, they are reported to have had their twin beds lashed together."
Anne was not the only royal to use the Royal Yacht Britannia for her honeymoon. Following suit, her brother - the then-Prince Charles - and his first wife, the late Princess Diana, also had a romantic break on board in 1981, followed by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson in 1986. The former navigated the unusual bed situation by reportedly having "a double bed brought on board for them."
Anne and Mark's daughter Zara Tindall also paid tribute to her parents by hosting her pre-wedding party with Mike on the Royal Yacht Britannia in 2011.
Lavish dinners
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Whilst onboard, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips (as well as the royal newlyweds that came after them) would likely have enjoyed hearty Scottish food.
Guests can experience "beautifully prepared dishes bursting with flavour, created with passion by the galley team," such as the signature Fingal’s smoked salmon, which is smoked on board.
Anne's second wedding
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Anne and Mark split in 1989 and divorced in 1992, shortly before she tied the knot with her second husband Timothy in a low-key ceremony in Scotland. Keeping the ceremony intimate, the Princess Royal invited just 30 guests to the ceremony in Aberdeenshire.
The couple exchanged vows at Crathie Kirk, the parish church frequented by the royals during their stays at Balmoral in Scotland. The exclusive guest list featured her parents, the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother, and her two children, Zara and Peter. Also in attendance were her three brothers: the then-Prince Charles, Andrew, and Prince Edward.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Departing from the traditional bridal gown she chose for her first marriage, Princess Anne opted for a more modern high-necked midi dress paired with a white jacket. She completed the sophisticated ensemble with black court shoes and styled her hair in her signature beehive.
The couple then embarked on a transatlantic cruise across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to visit the Caribbean and Galapagos Islands.