Of all Queen Elizabeth’s children, Anne and Charles are the closest in age, and the princess is a well-known source of support for her older brother. Their bond and sense of humor show themselves in many subtle moments, and Anne’s remark after the coronation was one of them.
Princess Anne exclaimed, “Hello, old bean,” when she saw King Charles at Buckingham Palace following his coronation.
While fans may never have expected to hear such a casual greeting for the newly crowned monarch, King Charles didn’t respond formally; instead, he reportedly burst out laughing. He then congratulated his younger sister by kissing her hand.
King Charles’ nickname highlights just how close he and Anne are as siblings, lifting the veil of royal formality to reveal the warmth they apparently share behind closed doors.
Last June, Hannah Furness, the Royal Family editor at The Telegraph, spoke about this in her YouTube series Royal Insight. She described them as having “very warm relations,” adding that the princess is a key part of her brother’s inner circle.
“She apparently has the best position of anyone to offer him advice, show a bit of sympathy when he needs it, and encourage him,” Furness said. “She understands how the royal family operates and has a particular perspective on both the past and the future.”
