For many fans of the royals, it would be a dream come true to become a member of the most famous family in Britain.

However, in the case of Princess Anne – the late Queen’s most rebellious child – she was desperate for her children to have as normal an upbringing as possible. 

To do so, the Princess Royal decided on behalf of her son and daughter that they would forgo much of the trappings of royal life. 

Anne’s controversial decision happened immediately after the birth of her son Peter in 1977 when she decided her son would not be given a title.

Writing in his biography of Princess Anne, royal insider Brian Hoey said that Anne did so because she believed ‘in this day and age a title would be more of a hindrance than an advantage as her children try to make their way in the world’.

Although Queen Elizabeth II reluctantly agreed to Anne’s request. Hoey wrote that the late Queen had been ‘anxious’ to give her first born grandson a title. 

And – according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward – Elizabeth was left disappointed by her decision but was nevertheless persuaded to respect her daughter’s decision.

Despite not being bestowed the title of prince, Peter still grew up with many of the airs and graces that define the royals. 

Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne following the birth of Peter Phillips in 1977. Anne’s controversial decision happened immediately after the birth of her son Peter in 1977 when she decided her son would not be given a title

Princess Anne with a newborn Peter leaving the hospital. After his birth Anne was quick to resume her own duties as a working member of the royals

Queen Elizabeth II and Anne with a young Peter and Zara Phillips in 1985. Anne decided not to give her children royal titles 

After his birth Anne was quick to resume her own duties as a working member of the royals which meant that Peter was brought up by a nanny.

Peter and later his sister also went to Gordonstoun, the same public school his grandfather – Philip – and his three uncles all attended. 

Hoey perfectly summarised Peter’s upbringing as ‘not exactly a run-of-the-mill commoner’. 

When Anne’s daughter was born in 1981, she again decided not to give her a royal title and broke convention in a different way when she named her Zara, an unusual for a member of the Royal Family.

And the Princess Royal was very much involved with bringing up her daughter with a young Zara ‘never very far from Anne’s side’.  

Whether Anne succeeded in giving Zara and Peter a ‘normal’ life is up for debate but they certainly got the best of both worlds in many respects. 

As while their cousins continue their roles as working members of the family, Anne’s children have had successful careers elsewhere.

From 2000, Peter worked in Formula One first for Jaguar as a corporate hospitality manager and then for Williams racing team as a sponsorship accounts manager. 

Zara and her mother at Ascot in 2003. When Anne’s daughter was born in 1981, she again decided not to give her a royal title and broke convention in a different way when she named her Zara, an unusual for a member of the Royal Family

Anne with the Queen and a young Peter. Despite not being bestowed the title of prince, Peter still grew up with many of the airs and graces that define the royals

Anne pregnant with Zara. The Princess Royal was very much involved with bringing up her daughter with a young Zara ‘never very far from Anne’s side’

He left F1 in 2006 for a job at the Royal Bank of Scotland and since leaving the bank in 2012 he has held numerous other jobs in the private sector. 

Zara had a successful equestrian career which saw her compete in multiple horse riding competitions.

Her career high point was representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics where she won a silver medal in the equestrian team eventing.

This was the first time Britain had won a medal in the event since 1972 when Zara’s father – Captain Mark Phillips – won a gold.

Peter has in the past made lucrative uses of his royal connections despite not being a prince.

At his wedding to his now-ex-wife Autumn Kelly, the couple sold Hello! the exclusive rights to picture most of the ceremony including inside the chapel and the reception in Frogmore House.

This resulted in a 100-page exclusive feature from the magazine, which included remarkably candid shots of the royals including images of the family laughing and one photo of Prince Harry giving his grandmother – Elizabeth II – a peck on the cheek. 

They were a far cry from the traditionally stage-managed wedding photographs released by the Royal Family.

Zara and her mother at an equestrian competition in 2006. Her career high point was representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics where she won a silver medal in the equestrian team eventing.

Peter Phillips and his new wife Autumn Kelly during their wedding day in May 2008. Hello! were given exclusive rights to picture most of the ceremony including inside the chapel

However, senior members of the family – including the late Queen – were less than impressed and allegedly felt blindsided by the publication of the pictures.

Buckingham Palace released a statement shortly afterwards claiming that the deal was a ‘serious error of judgement’.

The couple’s profitable wedding deal with Hello! would not be their last money making scheme.

Eight years later, Peter’s celebrity management company was paid £750,000 to oversee a £150-a-head street party in The Mall to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Peter was criticised in 2020 for using his family connections to sell milk on Chinese TV. 

Anne’s mission to give Zara and Peter a more normal upbringing has left a lasting legacy on the Royal Family with younger members of the firm also attempting to bring more normality to their lives.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children – Archie and Lillibet – were given royal titles upon King Charles’ accession to the throne.

However, Harry and Meghan – who stepped down as working royals in 2020 – have not explained their royal titles to their young children just yet. 

Peter with his mother. He has had a successful career working in the private sector for Formula One teams as well as the Royal Bank of Scotland 

The Princess Royal with Prince Harry and Meghan in 2019. Anne’s mission to give Zara and Peter a more normal upbringing has left a lasting on the Royal Family with younger members of the firm also attempting to bring more normality to their lives

According to US Weekly in August 2024, Harry and Meghan have not explained their royal heritage to their children but will ‘have those conversations in due time’.

Harry and the young Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet are still fifth, sixth and seventh in line to the British throne respectively.

For the Prince and Princess of Wales, giving their children a more ordinary  upbringing has been seen as a priority.

This means getting George, Charlotte and Louis to muck in with the chores.

In August 2024, a source told the Mail: ‘I think it would surprise people to see how ordinary things are at home.  

‘The children help with laying the table, clearing their plates when they’ve finished eating and helping with tidying up. There’s no preferential treatment.’

The royal couple decided three years ago that Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, the family’s former live-in nanny, would not relocate with them when they moved to Windsor from Kensington Palace.

Although the couple still make use of a nanny, evenings in their four-bedroom country bolthole Adelaide Cottage involve just themselves, taking turns to do the cooking.

The source said: ‘Catherine is very, very natural. She keeps the family down to earth.

‘Home is a safe haven. In a bid to keep things functioning as smoothly as possible she has been keen for everything to carry on as normal for the children.’ The source added: ‘The children are still expected do their chores and to muck in at home.’