Princess Anne crowned the ultimate royal ‘icon’ in rare ’70s Olympics photo

This week marks 50 years since the Princess Royal represented Great Britain in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

To mark the momentous anniversary, the royal family’s official Instagram account posted a throwback photo of Princess Anne on horseback, sporting a branded jumper. Smiling as she glanced over her shoulder, the young royal, then 25, kept her long hair away from her face with a silk headscarf covered in a swirled ’70s print.

It wasn’t long before fans flooded the comments section with praise, with many branding her an icon. “What an iconic person the Princess Royal is,” remarked one, while another penned: “A Princess, an Olympian. She’s such an icon.”

Princess Anne rode her late mother Queen Elizabeth II’s horse, Goodwill, in the equestrian three-day event, with the support of her whole family. Her parents, the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh, alongside her three brothers, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, all flew to Canada to cheer her on from the sidelines.

While she didn’t win a medal at that event, she was already a decorated athlete, having won a gold medal in 1971 and two silver medals in 1975 at the European Eventing Championships.

On Tuesday, Anne looked chic in a metallic jacket as she celebrated the anniversary at a reception alongside fellow athletes from the 1976 Great Britain team, who competed in both the Summer and Winter Games. 

Reflecting on her sporting career, Anne told Team GB ahead of the 2020 Olympics: “I do remember from my own Olympic journey the anticipation and excitement of stepping onto the Olympic stage. 

“But also the single-minded focus on what you need to do. I know that you have all worked incredibly hard for this moment, during the most challenging of times, and I hope you will find the Team GB environment a support and an inspiration for you.

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“This is your Olympics. It will be different, but not in its importance to you. Savour it, and above all, enjoy it,” she concluded the video message.

Royals in the Olympics

A competitive spirit and athleticism clearly run in the family, as several other royals have also competed in the Olympics.

Anne’s ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, was part of the British three-day event team that won a gold medal in the 1972 Munich Games. He later won a silver medal with the British team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. 

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They passed their equestrian passion down to their daughter Zara Tindall, who followed in her parents’ footsteps and competed in the London 2012 Olympics.

In front of a large crowd that included Prince William and his wife Kate, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, she won a silver medal with the British team, which was presented to her by her proud mother.