The exceptionally popular Netflix series The Crown has returned to our screens and is the second season to feature the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Anne, the Princess Royale. The first episode of the new season four has Princess Anne showing off her showjumping skills at the Badminton Horse Trials.
The Netflix series does take some liberties and artistic licence with the actual events, leaving some royal experts asking why storylines such as the kidnapping plot of the Princess Royale were left out.
However, Princess Anne, portrayed by Erin Doherty in The Crown, began horseback riding at the age of 11. The Queen’s lifelong love of horses, along with Prince Philip’s great polo skills, helped introduce her to the equine world young.
Anne was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1971 and served as president of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) from 1986 to 1994. Her father, Prince Philip, previously held the same position from 1964 until 1986. Anne also won three European Championship medals during her equestrian career.
The Princess Royale is behind brother Charles, Andrew, and Edward in line of succession for the throne, so she decided to turn her attentions to her horseback skills.
“You have to find the right horse at the right time. The original horse I rode was bred as a polo pony and should never have been an event horse, but it worked, so that was very satisfying. But I always knew it was going to be limited time,” she told Vanity Fairin May 2020.
Anne made her Olympic debut in Montreal in 1976. She competed on horse Goodwill for the dressage competition. That year, she became the first member of the British Royal Family to compete in the Olympics.
Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips, shared a love for equestrian. Phillips won a Gold Medal at the Munich Olympics as part of British Equestrian team in 1972.
Their daughter, Zara, is also passionate about the sport. Zara Tindall competed in the 2012 Olympics in London and won a Silver medal for a team event, the first member of the British Royal Family to do so.
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