Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's independent-minded one and only daughter, admits that she doesn't have thoughtful conversations with her older brother, Prince Charles, about climate change and she tries to cut short these conversations because of their different opinions.
In an interview for Australian Women's Weekly magazine to mark her 70th birthday, Princess Anne reveals that while her brother is an advocate of organic crops, she sees the advantage of genetically modified (GMO) crops in some areas in the world. For the Princess Royal, GMO allows some communities to grow and use what they need safely in abundance. She cited that grapeseed oil used to be toxic but due to genetic modification after World War II, it has become one of the most popular by-products of GMOs.
Princess Anne also has a different view on climate change that widely contradicts her brother's point of view. The Queen's daughter said that climate changes "all the time" so this isn't a new phenomenon. She's also not quick to blame climate change for recent natural catastrophes, such as the Australian bush fire in January and the coronavirus pandemic, unlike the Prince of Wales.
The Princess Royal, however, agree on one thing with Prince Charles, in that it's healthy for children to grow up on a farm. Princess Anne has four granddaughters from her children Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips Tindall, with first husband Capt. Mark Phillips.
Savanna, 9, and Isla, 8, are the kids of Peter with Autumn Phillips. Mia, 6, and Lena, 2, are Zara's daughters with Mike Tindall. The children often come to their grandmother's home in Gatcombe Park, where they reportedly ride horses together and play Princess Anne's backyard.
Princess Anne said that she has never enjoyed living in the city in London. She prefers the country life in her Gloucestershire estate. Like Prince Charles, Princess Anne enjoys farming and has done so for more than five decades. She also breeds horses, cattle, pigs and sheep in her estate.
Her home was a gift from her mother when she first got married to Phillips. Princess Anne said that she didn't plan on going into farming but their home had more land to be used so they turned parts of it into a farm. Now, Princess Anne maintains this farm with her second husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne will also be featured in a documentary on ITV for her upcoming birthday. Princess Royal: Anne At 70 will be aired on Aug. 15 in the U.K.
