Princess Anne's Surprise Stadium Ovation at Six Nations Match
Royal enthusiasts have celebrated Princess Anne as a 'class act' following her genuine reaction to an unexpected standing ovation during a Six Nations rugby fixture. The down-to-earth royal appeared genuinely astonished when the entire stadium of rugby supporters erupted into cheers for her during Scotland's encounter with Italy on February 7.
A Patron's Unexpected Recognition
Having served as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union for nearly three decades, Anne, 75, is a committed fan of the sport and attended Rome's Stadio Olimpico to support the team in their opening game of the annual tournament. However, she seemed unprepared for the overwhelming attention from spectators, looking momentarily perplexed as legions of sporting fans cheered in her honour.
The Princess Royal was captured on camera appearing puzzled before breaking into a smile and exchanging a few words with the person seated beside her once she realised the applause was directed at her. This authentic moment of humility quickly resonated with royal followers across social media platforms.
Social Media Acclaim for Royal Grace
Taking to Instagram to share their observations of the viral video, royal admirers expressed delight in Anne's 'dignity and grace', with one commenter noting: 'She didn't realise the cheers were for her till someone told her. Love that smile.' Another observer remarked: 'She looks so much like the Queen at times. Hardest working Royal.'
Meanwhile, additional social media users commended Anne for being a 'no frills princess' who 'just gets on with serving and representing' the Royal Family. One enthusiastic supporter added: 'Truly a magnificent human being and fantastic role model for women around the world.'
A Lifetime of Sporting Commitment
Anne has cultivated a reputation as the Royal Family's most grounded member, frequently charming royal enthusiasts with her sharp wit and humorous disposition. Her surprise appearance at the Six Nations match provided a brief moment of consolation for Scottish rugby fans disappointed by their team's 18-15 defeat to Italy.
Previously described by the Scottish Rugby Union as a 'long-standing and committed supporter of Scottish rugby', Anne has regularly travelled internationally to support the Scottish national team during Six Nations tournaments and seldom misses a match. Beyond spectator duties, she has consistently championed grassroots development, becoming patron of the Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation last year, an organisation dedicated to supporting injured players throughout Scottish rugby.
Announcing the Princess Royal's involvement, Ian Rankin, MIPF chair, characterised Anne as a 'dedicated supporter of the Scotland rugby team', adding: '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 Olympic Connections
In 2023, during an appearance on her son-in-law Mike Tindall's podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Anne disclosed how she initially became patron of the Scottish Rugby Union '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, I can't remember who by, 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.'
Anne's Six Nations appearance occurred just days after she and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, attended the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony in Milan, where they delighted royal fans by enthusiastically waving to Team GB. The Princess Royal, an accomplished equestrian who competed in the 1976 Olympics, serves as a member of the International Olympic Committee and President of the British Olympic Association.
As the first British Royal Family member to participate in the Olympic Games, she frequently attends Olympic events and recently shared a heartfelt video wishing Team GB luck ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. In a message posted to The Royal Family's social media, Anne stated: 'As your competitions begin, know that you will have the support of the nation. On behalf of us all, I wish you the very best of luck.'
Consistent Humility on Display
This heartwarming Six Nations incident was not the first instance where the Princess Royal's modesty has been showcased globally. During the Royal Family's annual Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham, Anne received widespread online praise for her 'humble' response to a fan's floral gift.
When presented with a bouquet of yellow roses, Anne responded with surprise: 'Are you sure? I'm probably the last person standing,' before accepting the flowers. The admirer explained she had selected them because Anne's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, admired them, to which Anne humorously inquired: 'You didn't pick these yourself, did you? I was going to say, your garden is doing better than mine!'
The clip, which accumulated over 1.5 million views, prompted royal enthusiasts to celebrate her 'humble and lovely' demeanour. One devoted fan wrote: 'She'll always be first in my book too, wonderful down-to-earth, hard-working lady.' Another social media user observed: 'I think she's marvellous and doesn't get enough credit for all she does.' A similar comment read: 'More flowers for Princess Anne. She's fabulous and needs more acknowledgement. I believe it is *her* who is the one holding the royal family together.'
