The royals' passion for Olympics: From Princess Anne competing in 1976 to Zara Tindall's silver in 2012
From winning gold to starting a new relationship: 10 royals who have a special bond with the Olympics
The 2024 Olympic Games have begun in Paris. The eyes of the whole world will be on the participants from July 26 to August 11. However, not just the general public but royals around the world also keep themselves immersed in the sports festival. Besides, many of them even share special connections to the Olympics. Let’s take a look at the royals for whom the Olympics is more than just a competition.
1. Princess Anne
Princess Anne loves horses and in 1976, she became the first British royal family member to participate in the Olympics from the British. She took one of her mother Queen Elizabeth’s horses, named Goodwill, to the competition. Later in 1988, the 73-year-old royal became a member of the International Olympic Committee.
2. Zara Tindall
Like her mother, Zara Tindall also loves horses and she went on to compete in the 2012 Olympics on her horse High Kingdom. She even won a silver medal, which was given to her by her mother.
3. Mark Phillips
Mark Philips is the former husband of Princess Anne and the father of Zara Tindall. He is also an accomplished equestrian, who has two Olympic medals - a gold and a silver.
4. Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry greeted the Olympic flame
The 2012 Olympics was held in London and it received royal treatment as Prince William, Prince Harry, and Kate Middleton welcomed the Olympic torch at Buckingham Palace. At the time it was reported that the trio was ambassadors for Britain's Olympic and Paralympic teams.
5. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene held the Olympic flame
This year’s Olympics is happening in Paris, and to mark its beginning, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco became part of the Olympic Torch Relay and carried the torch in front of the statue of Malizia at Palace Square.
6. Princess Charlene of Monaco
Princess Charlene is a swimmer who has participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 4x100m medley relay. Also, a few years later, she was seen with her now-husband Prince Albert at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Later in 2011, they got married.
7. Princess Cristina of Spain
Princess Cristina of Spain participated in the 1988 Seoul Olympics as a member of Spain's sailing team. But later in her years, she became infamous for being allegedly involved in tax fraud. The accusation even resulted in the stripping of her title as duchess. But in 2017, she was acquitted of all charges.
8. Prince Albert of Monaco
Prince Albert has his experience of competing in the Olympics as he participated in bobsledding at the Winter Olympics five times from 1988 to 2002.
9. King Harald of Norway competed thrice in the Olympics
![King Harald V of Norway attends the Men's 50 km Mass Start Classic cross-country skiing on day 17 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Cross-Country Stadium on February 28, 2010, in Whistler, Canada. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)]](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/6793ca75-fad4-4272-b5e2-d6610648f653.jpg)
Before becoming the king, Harald participated three times in the Olympics in sailing - 1964 in Tokyo, 1968 in Mexico City, and 1972 in Munich. Not only that but he also opened the Games in 1994 when the Olympics came to Norway.
10. King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia's love story began at the Olympics
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden's first meeting happened at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. At the time, Gustaf was the crown prince of Sweden while his wife was working as a host and interpreter. They then went for dinner, where they “just clicked” and in 1976, the pair got married.
