What life-saving new role has been handed to Sir Timothy Laurence, husband of Princess Anne?

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He’s not officially a working royal, but  Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence has just been appointed as patron of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) – an organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea.

The organisation, based in Stonehaven in Scotland, brings together lifeboat services from around the world in an effort to improve their work.

The retired Royal Navy officer, who is regularly seen by the side of Princess Anne at Royal occasions, maintains a close interest in the sea – something he shares with his wife, a keen sailor.

Sir Timothy, 68, was appointed to a major new role as patron of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) on Wednesday

The IMRF is the world’s leading organisation for developing and improving maritime search and rescue. Sir Timothy and Princess Anne are pictured at Trooping the Colour last year

Speaking about his new position, Sir Timothy said: ‘It is an honour to be appointed the new Patron of the IMRF, and I look forward to working closely with the organisation, its members and SAR personnel worldwide to advance the cause of safety at sea.’

Jacob Tas, Chair of the IMRF, said: ‘I am delighted that Sir Tim Laurence has accepted our invitation to become the new Patron of the IMRF.

READ MORE: How Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence rose from being an unknown aide to the Queen to Princess Anne’s devoted husband after low-key 1992 wedding

‘His tenure at the UK’s Royal Navy and his dedication to public service means he will be a fantastic supporter of the IMRF’s global work and the critical importance of maritime SAR organisations globally.’

As Patron, Sir Timothy is responsible as the voice and advocate for the work undertaken by the organisation which was founded in 1924.

He replaces Sir Efthimios Mitropoulos, the Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who stepped down earlier this year. 

Officially, Sir Timothy is a a non-working royal, but he is a constant presence at royal occasions and carries out a number of responsibilities.

He was appointed to the Governing Council of the UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 2004.

Sir Timothy had a successful career in the UK’s Royal Navy for four decades, serving  from the early 1970s until 2010.

He is also a Trustee Board and Chairman of the Operations Committee after retiring from the Navy. 

After serving as Her Late Majesty’s Equerry in the 1980s, Sir Tim made the leap from royal servant to royal spouse and has now been at the heart of the world’s most famous family for more than 30 years.

Princess Anne met her now husband in 1986 on the Royal Yacht Britannia when Sir Timothy was serving as a commander in the Royal Navy. 

The couple pictured on their first official engagement together at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993

The couple tied the knot in 1992 after he survived the crisis of the emergence of letters he had penned to the Princess when she was still married to her first husband Captain Mark Phillips.

They have a shared interest in sailing.  

The Princess Royal is a skilled yeachtswoman and patron of organisations such as the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. 

Princess Anne also holds the naval rank of Admiral. 

Princess Royal and Sir Timothy reportedly marked her 70th birthday by sailing around the West Coast of Scotland together.

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