Princess Anne Shows Support at Winter Olympics in Cortina
The Princess Royal made a notable appearance at the Cortina Olympic Stadium this afternoon, where she watched Team GB's Curling Mixed Doubles team compete for a bronze medal. Princess Anne, aged 75, was accompanied by Eve Muirhead, Team GB's Chef de Mission, in the stands as Great Britain's Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat narrowly lost third place to Italy.
Signature Sunglasses and Royal Loyalty
Ever the loyal royal, Anne sported a pair of Adidas Team GB wraparound sunglasses, a gift she first received at the London 2012 Olympics over a decade ago. These frameless shades feature mahogany red polarised lenses and have been worn by the Princess Royal on numerous occasions since, becoming a signature part of her sporting attire.
Engaging with Athletes and Medal Presentations
The royal has already made quite an impact at the Games, with Canadian freestyle skier Megan Oldham sharing details of a 'chit chat' she had with Anne after receiving a bronze medal. Oldham, 24, from Ontario, described Anne as 'so sweet' following their brief conversation after the skier's medal-winning performance on the slopes yesterday.
In a clip shared by CBC Olympics, Oldham told journalist Ariel Halwani that Princess Anne had praised her for making the podium. The athlete explained: 'She was saying, 'Congratulations, this is such a big accomplishment,' and she was also asking me about some other events that I have coming up, asking: 'Are you competing again?'' After confirming she would compete in the Big Air event this week, Oldham said the royal had 'wished me luck.'
Six Nations Rugby and Royal Reactions
Princess Anne, who was at Twickenham this weekend to cheer on England's rugby team in the Six Nations, flew to Milan to watch winter sports stars compete in the Italian Alps. Her sporting weekend included a memorable moment at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, where she was hailed as a 'class act' by royal fans for her low-key reaction to an unexpected standing ovation.
As patron of the Scottish Rugby Union for almost three decades, Anne arrived to support Scotland during their first game of the tournament. She appeared somewhat perplexed when legions of sporting fans cheered in her support, looking puzzled before smiling and muttering a few words to the person next to her once she realised the cheers were for her.
Royal fans took to Instagram to praise Anne's 'dignity and grace,' with one noting: 'She didn't realise the cheers were for her till someone told her. Love that smile.' Another observer commented: 'She looks so much like the Queen at times. Hardest working Royal.' Social media users also celebrated Anne as a 'no frills princess' who 'just gets on with serving and representing' the Royal Family.
Royal Background and Olympic Connections
Princess Anne has long held a reputation as the Royal Family's most down-to-earth member, known for her quick wit and sense of humour. Her surprise visit to the Six Nations game offered a brief moment of respite to Scottish rugby fans disappointed by their 18-15 loss to Italy.
Previously described by the Scottish Rugby Union as a 'long-standing and committed supporter of Scottish rugby,' Anne frequently travels abroad to support the national team during Six Nations tournaments and rarely misses a match. Beyond the stands, she has consistently backed grassroots development, recently becoming patron of the Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation.
Ian Rankin, MIPF chair, described Anne as a 'dedicated supporter of the Scotland rugby team' when announcing her involvement, adding: 'Her passion for sport, her commitment to the game at all levels, is well documented and we are honoured to have her join us as our Patron.'
Olympic History and Royal Duties
In 2023, during an appearance on her son-in-law Mike Tindall's podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Anne revealed how she first became patron of the Scottish Rugby Union by 'accident.' She explained: 'They asked me to go and open the East Stand [at Murrayfield Stadium] when it was built. I had about two weeks' notice because they had been let down, I can't remember who by, and as it happened, the horse was lame and I wasn't competing at the weekend, so I went. About a month later, they asked me if I wanted to become patron.'
Anne's Six Nations appearance followed her attendance at the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony in Milan with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, where they waved enthusiastically to Team GB. The Princess Royal, an acclaimed equestrian who competed in the 1976 Olympics, serves as a member of the International Olympic Committee and President of the British Olympic Association.
As the first member of the British Royal Family to participate in the Olympic Games, she is a frequent attendee and recently issued a touching video wishing Team GB luck ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. In a video posted to The Royal Family's X page, Anne said: 'As your competitions begin, know that you will have the support of the nation. On behalf of us all, I wish you the very best of luck.'
