15 July 2023 , 05:06
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Princess Anne is reportedly not a fan of Wimbledon. The famous London tennis tournament continues for a 15th day today, with the ladies' singles final due to start at 2pm.
But while the Princess of Wales will be attending the match this afternoon, the Princess Royal will most definitely not.
A lover of all things equestrian, Princess Anne is the hardest working royal. In 2022, she attended 214 engagements and at 72, is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Princess Royal has followed in her mother's footsteps with her dislike of tennis and although the late Queen was appointed patron of the tournament, she only attended four times in her 70-year reign.
Royal writer Teresa Paddington listed tennis among the Queen’s “dislikes” in her 2012 book The Elizabeth II Pocket Bible.
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Likewise, respected royal biographer Brian Hoey, writing in his 2020 book Royalty Revealed: A Majestic Miscellany, wrote: “Tennis is not on the list of royal favourite sports.”
But it's Anne's scathing comment that leaves a sting. Mr Hoey, an author and journalist who has covered numerous royal events over the years and interviewed Princess Anne before becoming her biographer, revealed the two-word review.
He wrote: “The Princess Royal is also not much of an. enthusiast, saying that Wimbledon is too 'cauldron-like'," presumably referring to the shape of the stadium.
Instead, the Princess Royal is a keen rugby fan and has been patron of the Scottish Rugby Union since 1986.
While tennis may not be her favourite sport, Anne has attended SW19 over the years. In 1969, then aged 18, the Princess presented the winner Ann Jones with the women’s singles title after the English player beat Billie Jean King.