
The Princess Royal has presented the first gold medals won by Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Princess Anne had a regal backdrop for the ceremony – it took place at Versailles, the most famous of French royal palaces.
Gold was won in the team eventing and the Princess, a former Olympic equestrian herself, was on hand to present Laura Collett, Tom McEwen and Ros Canter with their medals.
[getty src=”2164216556″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]And there was another special moment soon afterwards. Princess Anne stood as God Save The King was heard at the Olympics for the first time since 1948.
This is the first games to take place in the reign of Anne’s brother, Charles III. The last time the national anthem was God Save The King for an Olympics was in the reign of their grandfather, George VI.
Princess Anne has been in Paris for a week, her first overseas trip since an accident that left her in hospital for five days with minor head injuries and concussion. She is a member of the International Olympic Committee and attended its meeting ahead of the Games as well as spending time with Team GB ahead of the competition starting.
Team GB secured a second gold soon afterwards when Tom Pidcock produced an epic ride in the men’s mountain bike cross country to defend the Olympic title he first won in Tokyo in 2021.