In a surprising revelation from Windsor Castle, Princess Anne has expressed her fascination with the iconic 1990s television series Gladiators. The disclosure came during an MBE ceremony where former Gladiator star Kate Staples received her honour from the Princess Royal.
Royal Interest in 90s Television
Kate Staples, who performed as Zodiac on the original Gladiators series from 1993 to 1996, shared details of her conversation with Princess Anne after being appointed a Member of The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire. The former GB pole vaulter revealed that the princess had watched the popular television programme and was particularly intrigued by Staples' dual career as an Olympic hopeful and television personality.
Personal Conversation Revealed
"She had watched Gladiators, and she said to me: 'Oh, my goodness, so you'd qualified for the Olympics while you were on Gladiators?'" Staples recounted. "And I said: 'Yes.' Then I had accidents, I didn't go to the Olympics – she was fascinated by it all, which was lovely."
Staples explained that Princess Anne demonstrated detailed knowledge of her sporting background and achievements, including the serious injury that ended her competitive career. The athlete fractured her neck in two places following a fall during a Pole-Axe event on the programme, an incident the princess was aware of during their conversation.
Shared Passion for Sports Development
The discussion extended beyond television nostalgia to encompass their mutual commitment to sports development. Princess Anne, who competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as part of the British equestrian team and serves as a British member of the International Olympic Committee, emphasised the importance of encouraging children to participate in sport.
"She was saying how important that was to get children active," Staples noted. "It was a really lovely conversation." This shared interest reflects both women's dedication to athletic development, with Staples now focusing on grassroots initiatives through her Community Interest Company, Athletes For All.
Grassroots Sports Initiatives
Staples detailed her current work partnering with schools and local communities to develop athletics programmes for young people. "We are getting more children active, working with schools, councils and on the tracks," she explained. "With our new Community Interest Company, we are looking to raise money to include disadvantaged children."
The former athlete revealed ambitious expansion plans, stating: "We have four new academies opening this year. Tracks are completely underutilised which is why I started what we are doing on the tracks at the moment. They sit there empty, and so now, not only is it a safe space, but it is a really lovely community for everybody to come and parents to meet each other."
Sporting Legacy and Recognition
Kate Staples' sporting achievements remain impressive, having become the first British woman to clear three metres in pole vault in 1992 and setting 29 British and Commonwealth records during her career. Her MBE recognition acknowledges both her athletic accomplishments and her ongoing contributions to sports development.
The ceremony at Windsor Castle brought together two women with significant sporting pedigrees – Staples as a record-breaking athlete and television personality, and Princess Anne as an Olympian and mother to Zara Tindall, who won a silver medal in equestrian team eventing at the London 2012 Olympics.
This unexpected connection between royalty and 1990s popular culture highlights how television programmes like Gladiators created lasting impressions across British society, even reaching members of the royal family who maintain their own connections to the sporting world.
