Princess Anne arrived in Dublin on 6 August 2025 for a specially arranged courtesy call with President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins, ahead of the 150th Dublin Horse Show.
Wearing a carefully curated mint‑toned coat over a pale pistachio shirt and forest‑green skirt—with navy gloves, a black leather handbag, and pearl studs—she embodied a seamless nod to Ireland’s famed ‘Emerald Isle’ heritage, while maintaining her trademark elegance.
Her choice of accessory underscored the symbolism of the occasion: a vintage gold and diamond‑encrusted horse brooch—a signature piece from the 1980s—pinned to her lapel.
Esteemed jewelry expert Maxwell Stone noted that the horse motif, especially with its sparkling mane and tail, reflects Anne’s lifelong affinity for equestrianism, symbolizing her spirited character and storied history in the sport.
That evening, she went on to attend the official opening of the 150th Dublin Horse Show at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS). Traversing a special exhibition dedicated to the event’s century‑and‑a‑half legacy, she also met with representatives from Festina Lente (a Bray‑based equine therapy charity) and the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland, and presented rosettes to winners in the Small Hunters competition.
At Áras an Uachtaráin, Anne acknowledged the longstanding cooperative spirit between the United Kingdom and Ireland. President Higgins remarked, “It was a pleasure to renew my conversations with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne… to recognise the significant contribution which she has made over so many years to the relationship between our two countries.” He also praised her dedication to equestrian sport and its therapeutic applications, and expressed goodwill from King Charles.
On the diplomatic front, Paul Johnston, the British Ambassador to Ireland, described the visit as a reaffirmation of the “deep and enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Ireland” and highlighted how Anne’s presence celebrated both her charitable work and lifelong equestrian passion.
This visit is particularly notable as it marks only her second time at the Irish presidential residence; her first was in February 2004, during Mary McAleese’s term in office.
Princess Anne’s sustainable fashion approach was also on display: the mint coat dress she wore was a repeat of one previously seen at Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot in 2019, moments later recreated again at a Holyrood House event—an emblem of her thoughtful and eco-conscious public dressing.
Anchoring for royal fashion insight, this visit exemplifies the Princess Royal’s seamless blend of diplomatic poise, personal heritage, and public duty—manifest in every detail from color to accessory.