Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, received a warm welcome as she arrived in Aachen to open the CHIO Equestrian Festival 2023. The 72-year-old princess, known for her passion for
equestrianism, impressed the crowd by delivering her opening speech in fluent German.
During her address, Princess Anne took a moment to reminisce about her daughter Zara Tindall's remarkable achievement of becoming a world champion at Aachen in 2006. She expressed her pleasure at returning to Aachen and acknowledged the more intense emotions she experienced while watching her daughter's final showjumping round before securing the championship title.
The Princess Royal also highlighted the significance of the UK being the partner country for the CHIO Equestrian Festival, describing it as an important opportunity to demonstrate the shared values between the participating nations.
As she concluded her speech, Princess Anne displayed her language skills by delivering the ceremonial declaration in German, officially opening the CHIO Aachen 2023.
For the event, Princess Anne opted for an elegant white suit jacket paired with a black and white patterned dress. She arrived at the opening ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage and was accompanied by Hendrik Wust, the Minister-President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The princess was presented with a vibrant bouquet of flowers as a token of welcome.
Princess Anne's attendance at the CHIO Equestrian Festival follows her recent engagements, including her visit to the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh and her appearance at Royal Ascot. Her active involvement in various equestrian events reflects her enduring passion for the sport.
At the Royal Highland Show, Princess Anne interacted with exhibitors in the cattle ring, donning a stylish turquoise dress paired with a cream blazer. She accessorized her outfit with a gold horse brooch and a necklace. Notably, the princess demonstrated her commitment to sustainable fashion by wearing a dress she had originally worn 45 years ago in 1978 when welcoming Botswana's president at Buckingham Palace.
With her continued engagement in equestrian activities and her multilingual skills, Princess Anne continues to make a lasting impression both within and beyond the royal community. Photo by Carfax2, Wikimedia commons.