Anna Pavlovna was described as a tall, stately woman with a majestic appearance: proud and always identifying with her rank as an Imperial Grand Duchess, she never gave up her Imperial rank and was as a strict follower of etiquette and ceremony. Anna was acknowledged to be a talented and intelligent person who quickly mastered a new language as well as being well informed and with a clear understanding of contemporary politics. She was also a strongwilled character with a heated temperament, which could cause outbursts and result in her refusing to leave her rooms for days, referred to as her "nerves". She was also deeply devoted to her mother and her two younger brothers and their family affairs.