Happy 75th birthday to The Princess Royal – one of the most influential horsewomen in history
Those with first-hand experience of riding and working alongside The Princess Royal share their memories – both personal and public – to celebrate this supreme horsewoman on her 75th birthday. Kate Johnson reports
As a pony-mad schoolgirl, The Princess Royal relished the rough-and-tumble childhood familiar to many H&H readers. She has since risen to become one of the most successful and influential horsewomen in history.
Privilege alone doesn’t win European eventing titles, and since her hard graft in the competitive sphere, Princess Anne has made an enduring impact on the equestrian world. Here’s a glimpse of her seven decades of devotion through the words of significant names across the horse world.
Mark Todd: double Olympic gold medallist, five-time Burghley and four-time Badminton winner
“Princess Anne was competing when I first came to England; I remember her on Goodwill and Stevie B as a highly accomplished horsewoman. It can’t have been easy. She had her other life while trying to be competitive in the equestrian world, which she did very successfully.
“I was a naive boy from New Zealand country, and everything looked so polished in England. Princess Anne was immaculately turned out, elegant on a horse, looked good going cross-country, and all eyes were on her.
“As a new kid on the block I was always interested in the top riders – Lucinda Green, Mark Phillips, Richard Meade – and she was definitely one of them. I’d only ever read about them and it was fascinating to see them in the flesh, warming up, the horses they rode, what they did.
“She has great balance, feel and a strong competitive spirit; you don’t win what she has without working and training hard. And she has a huge love and knowledge of horses.
“I can’t remember the first time I actually met her – I wasn’t exactly pushing myself to say, ‘Hi, nice test there Ma’am!’ Since I’ve got to know her, she’s always friendly, open with her observations, not at all precious, astute; she’s someone you can have good discussions with about horses, or anything, really.”
Dickie Waygood: technical director and eventing performance manager for British Equestrian
“As Gold Stick for the Blues and Royals, the Princess would ride in the big ceremonial parades. When I was riding master of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, hers was one of those positions you never needed to worry about; you knew when she got off the horse, it was going better than when she got on it.
“She was a consummate professional with a wicked sense of humour and an eye for detail; if she had a comment she wouldn’t hold back and it was always spot on and valued. In the military she really knew what she was talking about, especially when it came to the equines; she never suffered fools that’s for sure!
“The Princess would come and sit on the horse before the parades, and I used to ride out with her in the park. Like with The late Queen, our conversations were 99% around horses. It was a massive privilege to spend time with her and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Rupert Bell: sports broadcaster
“We gave the Princess Royal the British Equestrian Media Association lifetime achievement award last year; the fact that she accepted it was hugely important for our humble little organisation. She normally doesn’t want any fuss, but we’re so proud of her work behind the scenes promoting equestrian sport.
“I know she was extremely touched to receive it. She got the usual glass plate and when I gave it to her she was genuinely moved that her efforts had been recognised.
“We were able to do it in front of a capacity crowd at the London International. We put up a screen to show her highlights and she kept on talking, then suddenly announced, ‘I rode Desert Orchid once.’ I thought, where did that come from?!
“With her knowledge and commitment – she’s always properly briefed and knows her role – she has a brilliant ability to make whoever she’s talking to feel like the centre of the universe.
“We’re privileged that we have her working so assiduously behind the scenes and for us to be able to honour her on behalf of equestrian media is one of the best things I’ve ever been able to do in my career.”
Jeanette Allen: chief executive of The Horse Trust
“At the National Equine Forum a few years ago, I raised my hand to ask a question and was duly picked. I stood up and waited for a roving microphone. My timing must have been unfortunate as neither were anywhere near me and it was awkward waiting. So I said to the room, ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure you can all hear me without the mic,’ to which she replied, smiling from the audience, ‘I’m sure we will!’ Once the mic arrived, I was giggling and all I could say into it was, ‘Many thanks Ma’am!’”
Jack Berry: former jockey and trainer, co-founder and vice-president of the Injured Jockeys Fund
“Princess Anne does an awful lot for the Injured Jockeys Fund, she’s an absolutely wonderful lady. I’ve known her for over 60 years, well before she opened our first respite centre, Oaksey House at Lambourn, and later, Jack Berry House.
“I was very proud when she rode for us at Newmarket on O I Oyston [they finished fifth in the one-mile handicap in 1988]. He was renowned as a hard-puller. I told her to take him down to the start nice and steady, relax him, give him plenty of rein, don’t let him canter half speed, he’ll be away. She rode him beautifully.
“She presented me with my British Champions Series Hall of Fame medal at Ascot. I’m quite proud of that; the only two prior winners of my ‘special contributor’ category were Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Khalid bin Abdullah! That’s quite good, isn’t it?
“I remember sitting next to her at a dinner at Jack Berry House. We were having strawberries, which were not in season and hard as anything. I said, ‘We shouldn’t be having these, they’re like bullets,’ and she agreed. You could have a craic with her and I’m so pleased and honoured to have her as the Injured Jockeys Fund’s patron.”
Michael Bishop: chief executive of the RDA
“The Riding for the Disabled Association [RDA] was officially founded in 1969 and Princess Anne became patron in 1971. She’s been involved for more than five decades, as president from 1985, and her galvanising effect is vast.
“Our social understanding of disability has changed a lot over those decades and with it our participants. I’ve met few with such remarkable skills to understand the impact of a horse in so many different settings and speak to such a diverse range of people living with different challenges on an engaged, equal basis.
“She came to our National Championships last year and did the prize-giving. As quickly as I could read out the citations she’d engaged in conversation with the winners and made everyone feel unique and that their moment was special.
“Great horse people have innate relaxation around horses; her way with people wouldn’t be possible if she weren’t so at ease around them.
“On a recent visit to watch carriage driving, one of the local dignitaries asked a general open question to the group about the difference between horses and ponies. He got more than he bargained for from the Princess: a full explanation, including the types of miniature horses, and now he’s an expert!
“I can’t picture where the RDA would be without her.”
Roly Owers: chief executive of World Horse Welfare
“The Princess Royal has had a lifelong love of horses, which she has shown in so many different ways, including as president of World Horse Welfare. For several years she was a rehomer of one of our rescued ponies, who by sheer coincidence was called Annie.”
Ginny Elliot: winner of four Olympic eventing medals, world and three-time European champion, three-time Badminton and five-time Burghley winner
“I wasn’t privileged enough to ride on a team with her, though I always admired her riding and her outstanding results. I came a bit later on, and Lucinda Green, Mary Gordon-Watson and the Princess Royal were my icons; I watched them day after day.
“I competed with her at a couple of Burghleys and Badmintons. You could have a giggle with her, she was very much part of the group, and didn’t expect to be treated any other way.
“She was a diligent competitor. This sport teaches you to work hard and put up with disappointment. That was a good basis for any future part of her life and since then, no one has worked harder or been better informed in the royal family. She’s an extraordinary individual.
“As a rider she was gutsy and able to put things behind her quickly, which is half the battle; if you’ve made a muddle, you can’t delay. She was good at that; clocking it, learning and quickly moving forward.”
Sister Mary Joy Langdon: founder of Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre
“I’ve had a long association with the Princess and we competed as youngsters, though I never beat her. A few days before the British Horse Society [BHS] awards at Newbury last year, they let me know the Princess Royal had requested to present me with the President’s Award, which is quite special.
“After lunch, a woman tapped me on the shoulder and said the Princess Royal has offered to have a chat with you. We spoke about chickens – she wasn’t getting any eggs and I was getting one a day!
“When the Princess Royal came to the pony centre for our 35th anniversary, also last year, it was one of the best days of my life. It was pelting with rain. She said, ‘Step under my umbrella,’ which she carried. When she cut the cake, she told the volunteers, ‘You will eat it if I cut it otherwise it’s legal vandalism!’
“She’s genuine and kind, dedicated and devout, with a sincere love of horses and what they can do for people. I had a chat with one of her protection officers, who said if she’s at home she’ll muck out her own stables. I thought, ‘Yes, that’s what I’d do. We all do that as horse lovers.’”
Martin Clunes: actor and president of the BHS
“Right from the start Princess Anne took the role as vice patron of the British Horse Society [BHS] to heart and has given us and our members so much of her valuable time – she’s always great to talk to about anything equestrian.
“I remember one lunch where I was debating the wisdom of taking my two slightly knackered Clydesdales up to the World Clydesdale Show in Aberdeen and how long I would have to allow for the journey. The Princess said that she always drove her young horses up to Balmoral and I asked if she did it in one go, to which she replied, ‘Well we’d stop for petrol…’ No nonsense.”
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You may also be interested in:
Legends of the sport: The eventing career of Princess Anne
The Princess Royal’s former charger Elizabeth retires aged 24
The H&H interview: The Princess Royal
The Princess Royal gives rare TV interview to mark RDA’s golden anniversary
The Princess Royal: from childhood ponies to celebrating Britain’s Olympic glory
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Born in Australia and bought up in the Midlands, Kate has ridden since childhood. After completing her degree and living abroad for several years, she became an award-winning BBC radio producer and Channel 4 documentary producer after which she became a freelance journalist, contributing to the Daily Mail, The Times, The Telegraph and others. She also collaborated with top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson OBE, to write his best-selling memoir, Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 Horses. She owns currently cares for retrained National Hunt racehorse, Stop the Show.