Since 1969 The Princess Royal has pursued a very busy schedule of public duties.

In addition to carrying out engagements in support of The Queen, Her Royal Highness works on behalf of a broad range of organisations such as Save the Children, The Princess Royal’s Trust for Carers and Riding for the Disabled.

The Princess Royal is President of the British Olympic Association and a UK member of the International Olympic Committee and also a Board Member of London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games.

The Princess also holds a number of appointments in the British and Commonwealth Armed Services.

Her Royal Highness won the individual European Eventing title in 1971 and was voted the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year (her daughter Zara Phillips, received the same award in 2006).

In 1976 The Princess became the first member of the Royal Family to represent her country at an Olympic Games when she competed with the British Eventing team in Montreal.

The Princess Royal undertakes over 600 official engagements each year, both in the UK and overseas. These are listed on the forthcoming diary of engagements, and after the event has taken place, archived in the Court Circular.

The Princess Royal’s morning can start in Buckingham Palace, where her office is located, and where she holds audiences with executives of her charities or Commanding Officers of her Regiments.

She will have received briefing notes from her Private Secretary, detailing the day’s engagements, which typically take her around the UK from morning until a final evening engagement.

A typical recent day included:

Morning:

The Princess Royal visited Hill End Farm, near Halifax, in West Yorkshire, where she met the owners who have had success making cheese from their small dairy herd.

Afternoon:

The Princess visited Halifax Opportunities Trust, Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre. She was able to meet people who briefed her on the town’s ideas for furthering employment in the region.

Her Royal Highness later opened the Oncology Centre at St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, where she met staff and patients.

Evening:

As Patron, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, the Princess attended a Dinner at Harewood House, Harewood, where supporters of the charity were able to meet to discuss the latest developments and projects of the charity.