Princess Anne has celebrated 50 years since she competed in the Montreal Olympics and invited her former teammates to an event to reminisce about their past triumphs.
The Princess Royal became the first member of the Royal Family to compete in the Olympic Games when she lined up in the Equestrian Eventing for Team GB in 1976.
However, the Princess does not remember competing, having suffered a serious fall during the cross-country event.
She refused to let her team down and was praised for getting back on her horse, Goodwill, which was owned by her mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Delivering a speech at a dinner for the 1976 Olympic team, the Princess told guests – who are now in their 70s and 80s – that they all looked ‘extremely well, adding that the milestone reunion ‘does mark the passage of time just a little’.
Her former teammates were invited to a reception at Lansdowne House, a private members’ club in London.
Speaking of their shared memories of the Games, she said: ‘I had a slight problem in that the bit I would like to remember, which is the cross country, I don’t.
‘But every now and again I see it and think ‘oh ok’. I suspect Goodwill remembers it, but I don’t.’
She added of the Olympics: ‘It was an experience, and a lot of it was a good experience.’
Princess Anne became the first member of the Royal Family to compete in the Olympics in 1976
Princess Anne competes as part of the British equestrian team in the Montreal Olympic Games on July 19, 1976
The Princess Royal meets gymnasts Avril Lennox (centre) and Susan Cheesebrough (left), during a reunion of the 1976 Olympic Games, at the Lansdowne Club,
Equestrian rider Jennie Loriston-Clarke has remained in touch with the Princess for 50 years after they competed together
Princess Anne with former Alpine Skiing Olympian Sarah Lewis (centre) and current chair of GB Olympians committee – Alpine Skiing, and ex-Olympic gymnast Barbara Slater (left)
Concluding the short speech, after which 150 guests had dinner, the Princess hailed the ‘enjoyment, long-lasting friendship, and the ability to inspire others’ that being an Olympian had brought them all, The Telegraph reported.
‘Thank you all for your contribution to Olympic history.’
Some of the guests, including equestrians Hugh Thomas and Jennie Loriston-Clarke, have remained in touch with the Princess, and recalled the close-knit team of riders who stayed in chalets together two hours outside Montreal.
After they were not issued with proper kit, the group purchased their own from a local shop and stuck a Union flag on the outfits to look the part.
The Great British team finished in 24th place, with numerous riders and horses having difficulties.
The Princess fell at the 19th fence of the cross-country course, and was praised by the BBC commentator on the day for her ‘outstanding physical courage’.
Speaking about the fall years later, The Princess later said: ‘Come on, be fair, I was put back on!
‘The lights were on, but there was no-one at home.’
The Princess was watched at the summer Olympic Games by her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who also opened the tournament as Queen of Canada, father Prince Philip, and three brothers Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Her daughter, Zara Phillips, went on to win a silver medal in the same event at the London 2012 Olympics.
Other guests at the reception on Tuesday afternoon included medal winners from the 1976 Games: John Osborn (sailing) and Adrian Parker (modern pentathlon) who both won gold; Chris Baillieu and Mike Hart (rowing men’s doubles sculls), James Clark and Richard Lester (rowing men’s eights) and Julian Brooke‑Houghton (sailing) who won silver; and bronze medallist in the judo, David Starbrook.
Also present at the reunion were Barbara Slater (gymnastics), Dave Moorcroft (athletics), Lorna Boothe (athletics), Andrea Lynch (athletics), Ian Hallam (cycling), Erika Shorr and Colin Taylforth (skating partners) and Hilary Cawthorne (fencing).
