Princess Anne will play a vital role next to the King for his coronation in honour of her years of unwavering loyalty.
The Princess Royal will be included in the procession as the prestigious “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting”, which is a position historically handed to a person entrusted with the personal safety of the sovereign, according to The Mirror.
As Princess Anne is a “personal aide-de-camp” to His Majesty, she will make her way on a horse behind the new King and Queen after they are crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
Charles and Camilla will make their way back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach and Anne will lead the larger procession featuring 6,000 armed services personnel.
The privilege dates back to the 15th century in Tudor times and two officers - a Gold Stick and a Silver Stick, were placed close to the sovereign to protect him or her from danger.
Royal sources have said that the King personally told his sister of his wish and how she was “incredibly honoured” to be handed the role.
The pair have a good relationship and royal insiders have revealed that the King, 74, often leans on his trusted lieutenant Anne, 72, for advice and is a fan of her “no nonsense attitude”.
The palace source said: “The direction of the King’s decision is clear for all to see.
“He is rewarding the Princess Royal for her loyalty and her unwavering devotion to duty above all else.
“The King values his sister as a trusted lieutenant and this is the perfect example of such a relationship.”
The role of Gold Stick, now only demonstrated on ceremonial and state occasions, is held jointly by the Colonels of the Life Guards (LG) and the Blues and Royals (RHG/D), both being Regiments of the Household Cavalry of the Household Division.
The Silver Stick is the Commander of the Household Cavalry and holds the rank of colonel and is in charge of all ceremonial duties for the sovereign.
As colonel of the Blues and Royals cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry, Anne has executed the role during previous state and ceremonial occasions.
King Charles' younger sister was also a former personal ADC to the late Queen, and rode on horseback for several years during the Trooping the Colour celebrations in London, marking the sovereign’s official birthday.
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