Princess Anne at the CHIO Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.Photo:Rolf Vennenbernd/Picture Alliance via Getty
Rolf Vennenbernd/Picture Alliance via Getty
Princess Anneis one proud horse show mom!
“It really is a pleasure to be back in Aachen this evening. It was, of course, a more tense situation the last time I was here, watching my daughter compete in her final show jumping round before becoming world champion,” she said on stage, according toHello!.
“This is a lot easier,” she joked, before formally opening the festival in German.
Princess Anne was there when Zara won 17 years ago, and later had the honor of presenting her medal when she won silver with Team Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics in the discipline of three-day eventing. Princess Anne serves as President of the British Olympic Association, and is the former president of the FEI, the international governing body of equestrian sports. She and her ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips, an Olympic gold medalist and World Champion-winning rider, undoubtedly inspired their daughter’s passion for the horse sports!
JOCHEN LUEBKE/DDP/AFP via Getty
“Our horses are in our family, so there’s always discussions about performances and things like that. There’s horses in her life, and she does a bit of breeding as well. So there’s always horse conversation going on,” the pro rider exclusively told PEOPLE at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event in April.
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Princess Anne recently trotted into the spotlight when shehorseback rode in a royal processionon King Charles andQueen Camilla’s coronation day. The Princess Royal participated in the Coronation Procession following the crowning ceremony at Westminster Abbey as the “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting.” The prestigious position, which Anne has held since 1998, dates back to the 15th century when two officers — a Gold Stick and a Silver Stick — were placed close to the monarch to protect them from harm.
In an interview withCBC Newsthat aired before the big day, Annejoked about the perksof the unique role.
Princess Anne, Princess Royal rides on horseback on King Charles' coronation day.Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
“I have a role as the Colonel of the Blues and Royals in the Household Cavalry regiment asGold Stick [in Waiting]. And Gold Stick was the original close protection officer. So that is a role I was asked if I’d like to do for this coronation, so I said yes,” she explained. “Not least of all, it solves my dress problem.”
source: people.com
