The Princess Royal received an unexpected standing ovation from rugby supporters in Rome after stadium cameras cut to the Princess Royal during a stoppage in Scotland’s Six Nations clash with Italy, a moment that quickly went viral on social media.
Footage circulating online shows the 75-year-old royal smiling politely in the stands as a roar of applause swept through the Stadio Olimpico during an injury break in the second half. According to spectators, Anne appeared unaware the cheers were directed at her until those seated nearby pointed it out.
The spontaneous tribute came during a rain-lashed contest that ended in a disappointing 18–15 defeat for Scotland – a result that deepened early fears of a difficult championship campaign for Gregor Townsend’s side.
During an injury break at the Italy v Scotland game in Rome, the camera switched to show Princess Anne and the crowd erupted with cheers for her!
— Aimee 🧚🏻♀️ (@aimee_daisies) February 7, 2026
She didn’t realise the cheers were for her until someone told her 🥹👏 pic.twitter.com/93qGfglBZc
Italy stunned the visitors with a blistering start, crossing twice in the opening exchanges as Louis Lynagh finished a delicate grubber from Juan Ignacio Brex before Tommaso Menoncello raced clear down the left after a defensive lapse. With the pitch sodden and handling errors mounting, Scotland struggled to impose themselves despite a powerful close-range try from Jack Dempsey.
Paolo Garbisi’s boot kept the hosts ahead at half-time and, although Finn Russell’s penalties and a late score from replacement scrum-half George Horne dragged Scotland within three points, Italy held firm in near-farcical conditions to seal a deserved victory.
Yet amid the frustration for Scottish fans, the sight of the Princess Royal drew a wave of affection from the crowd – a reflection of her long and visible association with the sport north of the border.
Anne has served as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union for almost three decades and has been a familiar presence at Murrayfield since the early 1980s. The SRU has previously described her as a “long-standing and committed supporter of Scottish rugby”, noting that she officially opened the East Stand in 1983 and has attended fixtures in her patronal role in nearly every season since.
Her connection with Scottish sport runs deeper than ceremonial appearances. The Princess Royal is known for regularly watching international matches, engaging with players and officials, and maintaining a keen interest in the grassroots game.
The warm reception in Rome followed Anne’s high-profile appearances at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan earlier this week, where she and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, enthusiastically waved to Team GB from the stands at San Siro – another reminder of her enduring presence in British sporting life.
While Scotland left Rome nursing a dispiriting loss, the viral moment offered a lighter interlude – one in which rugby supporters from across the stadium momentarily united to salute one of the game’s most loyal royal champions.
