Princess Anne is known for her bluntness and no-nonsense personality (Image: PA)

Body language expert Darren Stanton has analysed photos and footage of Princess Anne on her 74th birthday as he lifts the lid on her famously unflappable nature

Princess Anne’s zero tolerance for nonsense has her “running rings around people who doubt her”, a body language expert has revealed.

Toasts have been made to Britain’s hardest working royal on her 74th birthday as she continues to recover from concussion and head injuries which left her hospitalised two months ago. The King’s younger sister is famously known for being unflappable, once famously retorting, “not bloody likely” in a dramatic plot to kidnap her from a car on The Mall.

As tributes were paid to the royal on her birthday on Thursday, a body language has lifted the lid on her remarkable ability to never get flustered and always remain in control of the situation. Expert Darren Stanton analysed footage of interviews and said the princess “mirrors” others’ gestures in a smart hack when being quizzed.

Speaking on behalf of Betfair Slingo, Darren said: “Princess Anne is known to never suffer fools. She’s had this strong sense of self throughout the years and it’s evident in older interviews too. She sits facing her interviewers and isn’t thrown by questions.

“If something is asked of her that she feels is trying to make light of a situation or poke fun, she can offer a stern answer with a smile on her face. I’ve also noticed that she mirrors people’s body language. Whether that’s with a top journalist or a member of the public she’s meeting.

“This can help to put someone at ease but mirroring can also cause someone to mirror back, allowing you to anticipate their next move and feel more in control. Whether Anne does this intentionally or not, I’m unsure but it serves her well.”

Darren added: “In many interviews, Anne can be seen using her hands to gesture and articulate her points. This reinforces her passion for the project or event she’s discussing and also shows her confidence in her voice. When others are speaking she often places her hands on her lap, which is relaxed and calming. But her fingers are often interlocked, which is a subconscious move to suggest power and confidence.”

Anne was rushed to hospital back in June after suffering concussion and head injuries in an accident involving a horse while walking on her Gatcombe estate. She has since been phasing her return to royal duties but has pressed on with engagements over the summer, including attending the Paris Olympics.

The monarchy’s official social media accounts shared archive images of the princess, alongside the message: “Wishing The Princess Royal a very Happy Birthday today!” Among the pictures was a black and white photograph of a three-year-old Anne with her older brother Prince Charles, then five and now the King, sat among the daffodils at Royal Lodge, Windsor, in 1954.