London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Nov 06, 2026

Behind-the-scenes moment Princess Anne teaches her mother the Queen how to use Zoom during first public video call - in a sneak peek of upcoming ITV documentary to mark her 70th birthday

When the Queen took part in her first public video call from Windsor Castle last month to support the nation's carers, it was Princess Anne who assisted her mother on Zoom.

Most of us have had to help our elderly parents navigate modern technology to keep in touch during lockdown - and the Princess Royal is no exception.

When the 94-year-old Queen took part in her first public video call last month to support the nation's carers, it was Princess Anne who assisted her mother on Zoom.

In a sneak preview of an upcoming ITV documentary to mark the royal's 70th birthday, Anne asks Her Majesty: 'Can you see everybody? You should have six people on your screen.'

When the Queen replies: 'Yes, well I can see four anyway,' the princess is quick to remark: 'Actually, you don't need me. You know what I look like!'

The amusing clip, shared on Twitter by ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship this evening, has left royal fans praising Anne for her humorous antics.


One social media user wrote: 'One is amused. Awesome,' while another added: 'Puts a smile to my face!'

A third said: 'Brilliant. Princess Anne is great and it's been lovely watching the Queen Zoom during lockdown. Can't wait to watch this.'

At the start of the clip, which took place during National Carers' Week, Anne is seen waiting for her mother to enter the call from Windsor Castle.

'It's Tom here,' the Queen's Assistant Private Secretary Tom Laing-Baker says as the pair tune in. 'I'm just going to introduce Her Majesty The Queen.’

Anne is then heard saying: ‘Ah. Good morning at Windsor,’ before the Queen replies: ‘Good morning. I'm very glad to have been able to join you.’

The Queen joined the Princess Royal on the conference call in June with four carers living across the UK who have been responsible for looking after family during the coronavirus crisis.

Speaking from a sitting room at the castle, the monarch spent 20 minutes listening to the women about their experiences and asking questions about the pressures they face.

The new documentary, Princess Royal: Anne at 70, which airs ahead of her milestone birthday in August, also sees Anne reveal her views about one of social media's most popular platforms, Twitter, saying: 'I wouldn't go anywhere near it if you paid me frankly.'

Many royals, including Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry all have social media accounts but Princess Anne's work is shared on the Queen's Royal Family platforms.

Commenting on social media Anne says: 'With online technology... being in touch is one thing but it's not quite the same. The ability to meet people, that's what makes the difference.

'I mean, I know what Twitter is but I wouldn't go anywhere near it if you paid me frankly. But that's a slightly different issue.'

Anne was followed for more than a year by film-makers for the documentary, which will feature unseen family footage and conversations with the princess herself, her children and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Office for National Statistics Reports Escalating Export and Supply Chain Cost Pressures Across British Firms
Consortium of Top Universities Launches UK Quantum SuperConnector to Drive Commercial Research Success
Betfred Terminates Sponsorship of All Five British Classics Following Successive Government Tax Increases
Royal Navy Flagship Arrives in Oslo for High-Level Northern European Security Talks Following Drone Trials
Bank of England Raises Bank Rate to Four Percent Following Persistent Energy Shocks and Middle East Conflict Pressures
High Court Rules in Favor of Comprehensive Transparency Review Regarding Government Artificial Intelligence Procurement Contracts
Home Office Expands Digital Border Security and Electronic Travel Authorization Systems Across International Arrivals
Scottish Government Confirms Accelerated Investment in Offshore Renewable Energy Infrastructure Across North Sea Corridors
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Implements Stricter Water Company Oversight and Environmental Penalties
National Health Service England Unveils Emergency Winter Resilience Package to Tackle Acute Accident and Emergency Backlogs
Office for National Statistics Reports Gross Domestic Product Growth Stagnated at Zero Point One Percent in Third Quarter
Chancellor of the Exchequer Outlines Comprehensive Fiscal Strategy to Stabilize National Borrowing and Public Spending
Bank of England Maintains Base Interest Rate at Five Percent Amid Persistent Service Sector Inflation Pressures
Office for National Statistics Reports Stable Consumer Confidence and Modest Retail Growth Heading into Winter
Welsh Government Launches Strategic Regional Transport Initiative to Modernize Rail Links Across South Wales
Home Office Expands Digital Border Security Controls and Electronic Travel Authorisations for Inbound Visitors
Scottish Government Announces Emergency Housing Investment Package to Tackle Urban Homelessness Crises
Northern Ireland Executive Reaches Bipartisan Consensus on Public Sector Pay Reform and Budget Allocations
Automotive Manufacturing Sector in the West Midlands Welcomes New Electric Vehicle Supply Chain Investments
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Approves Offshore Wind Expansion in the North Sea
HM Treasury Finalizes Regulatory Framework for Stablecoins and Digital Asset Markets in London
National Health Service Unveils Comprehensive Digital Integration Strategy to Slash Hospital Waiting Lists
Bank of England Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged Amid Persistent Wage Growth and Inflationary Pressures
United Kingdom and Caribbean Nations Agree to Establish Formal Diplomatic Dialogue Following Reparations Discussions
Cambridge University Appoints Senior Barrister to Lead Independent Review into Death of Academic Jason Arday
Historic Hastings Castle and Kent Dickens Chalet Added to National Heritage at Risk Register Amid Deterioration Concerns
Incoming British Ambassador to Japan Calls for Deepened Bilateral Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductors
Milburn Review Urges Employment Revolution to Unlock Workforce Opportunities for Young Disabled Britons
British Healthcare Worker Evacuated from Democratic Republic of Congo to United Kingdom Following Ebola Exposure
United Nations Refugee Agency Criticises Government Proposal for Thirty-Year Earned Settlement Pathways for Asylum Seekers
Parliamentary Inquiry Warns United Kingdom Remains Exposed to Chinese Critical Mineral Dependencies
Bank of England Prepares Interest Rate Decision as Inflation Pressures Prompt Expectation of Four Percent Benchmark
Department for Business and Trade Overhauls Protection Standards for Digital Animation and Moving Image Files
Intellectual Property Office Introduces Thirty-Month Grace Period for International Product Launches
Intellectual Property Office Targets Anti-Competitive Filings With New Powers to Verify Novelty Before Registration
Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray Praises Regulatory Reforms to Safeguard Small Businesses and Micro-Enterprises
Government Unveils Major Design Framework Overhaul to Protect British Creators and Boost Economy
Global Asset Management Reports Surge in British Dividend Payouts Driven by Strong Financial and Mining Sectors
HM Treasury Confirms Strongest Group of Seven Growth Figures as Fiscal Consolidation Plans Progress
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Approves Construction of New North Sea Offshore Wind Hub
Northern Ireland Executive Finalizes Public Sector Pay Agreements Following Months of Inter-Agency Negotiations
Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan Secures Cross-Party Support for Regional Clean Energy Infrastructure Bill
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Investigation Into Dominant Artificial Intelligence Cloud Partnerships
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy Concludes High-Level Diplomatic Mission to Washington and Ottawa
Scottish Government Announces Emergency Housing Investment Package to Address Escalating Urban Homelessness
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Finalizes Corporate Tax Adjustments Ahead of Upcoming Business Investment Summit
National Health Service England Unveils Emergency Winter Resilience Plan to Combat Projected A&E Overcrowding
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Votes to Hold Base Interest Rate Steady at Four Point Seven5 Per Cent
UK Gross Domestic Product Expands by Zero Point Four Per Cent in Third Quarter Driven by Resilient Services Growth
Northern Ireland Executive Agrees on Multi-Year Public Sector Pay Restructuring Framework at Stormont
×