Princess Anne's Playful Rugby Encounter Delights Royal Fans
Princess Anne has charmed royal enthusiasts with her wonderfully fun nature during a second hilarious meeting with Scotland's rugby captain. The Princess Royal, serving as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, presented the Auld Alliance Trophy to Sione Tuipulotu following Scotland's significant Six Nations victory against France on March 7.
A Lighthearted Reference to Previous Awkwardness
When the esteemed 29-year-old sportsman approached Anne, both individuals mirrored each other by opening their arms in jest. This playful gesture served as a direct reference to their somewhat awkward near-hug moment last month. The 75-year-old princess and Mr Tuipulotu briefly erupted into laughter before Anne followed royal protocol by shaking hands with the Scottish rugby player and exchanging warm words.
This delightful interaction followed their rather uncomfortable encounter on February 14, when Mr Tuipulotu made an unsuccessful attempt to embrace the princess after Scotland's victory against England. During that initial trophy presentation, the rugby star appeared to try giving Anne a brief hug, but the princess stepped back and instead placed her hand on his shoulder before engaging in lighthearted conversation.
Social Media Reaction and Royal Protocol
The hilarious interaction between the rugby star and princess was posted on X by Scottish Rugby with the caption: 'This close to a hug.' An influx of delighted royal fans quickly praised Anne for her 'palpable pleasure' during what they described as a 'truly lovely' moment.
'Genuine and wonderful to see!' commented one user, while another added: 'Brilliant. She's the coolest royal.' An avid fan quipped: 'Win the championship and he might just get that hug,' with others suggesting the hilarious moment revealed 'genuine affection on both sides.'
Observers noted that while Anne may have been inclined to give Mr Tuipulotu a hug, she was once again abiding by royal protocol, which traditionally advises that members of the Royal Family avoid hugging members of the public during official engagements.
Anne's Longstanding Rugby Connection
Princess Anne has maintained a reputation as the Royal Family's most down-to-earth member, often delighting fans with her quick wit and hilarious sense of humour. Having served as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union for nearly three decades, she is a committed fan of the sport and was seated at Edinburgh's Murrayfield to support the Scottish team and wish players luck ahead of the game.
Anne certainly witnessed an impressive match as Scotland scored seven tries and 50 points in a stunning victory over France that propelled them to the top of the table. Dressed appropriately for the sporting event, Anne wore a navy wool, double-breasted coat and tartan scarf, later photographed in her seat with stylish brown sunglasses and an SRU jacket.
Behind the Scenes Support
Previously described by the SRU as a 'long-standing and committed supporter of Scottish rugby,' Anne has frequently travelled abroad to support the Scottish national team during Six Nations tournaments and rarely misses a match. Behind the scenes, she has consistently backed grassroots development and last year became patron of the Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation, which provides support to injured players across Scottish rugby.
When announcing the Princess Royal's involvement, Ian Rankin, MIPF chair, described Anne as a 'dedicated supporter of the Scotland rugby team.' He added: 'Her passion for sport, her commitment to the game at all levels, is well documented and we are honoured to have her join us as our Patron.'
Accidental Patronage and Rugby Philosophy
In 2023, during an appearance on her son-in-law Mike Tindall's podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Anne revealed how she first became patron of the SRU by 'accident.' She explained: 'They asked me to go and open the East Stand [at Murrayfield Stadium] when it was built. I had about two weeks' notice because they had been let down, and as it happened, the horse was lame and I wasn't competing at the weekend, so I went. About a month later, they asked me if I wanted to become patron.'
Referencing her inherent passion for the sport, the princess added: 'Everything that rugby gives, I'm talking about exercise and team sports in general, but I do think rugby offers a variety of talents in one team. And you have to look out for each other and that's a different sort of responsibility within a team structure. They're not all the same, you can have different skills.'
When Anne's previous interaction with Mr Tuipulotu was captured as she handed him the Calcutta Cup, social media users praised Anne for handling the moment 'perfectly.' One royal fan noted: 'She almost got a hug! That's something you never see. Notice he went in for a hug but she deflected with a pat on his shoulder. Brilliant.' Another user praised Anne for her 'dignified and beautiful' behaviour, while a further admirer added: 'The Princess Royal is absolutely phenomenal. She is a fantastic example of duty coming first. The most hard-working royal.'
