Princess Anne’s Witty Quip to Sir Kevin Sinfield Highlights Striking Sporting Contrast with Princess Kate
The Princess Royal once again showcased her sharp British wit while supporting Sir Kevin Sinfield during the final stretch of his grueling “7 in 7: The Grand Finale” endurance challenge, which saw the sports icon complete an ultra-marathon every day for seven days in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) charities. Joining hundreds of spectators along the route, the famously equestrian-minded royal was invited by Sinfield to lace up and join his running team. Princess Anne barely hesitated before offering a polite yet prompt decline: “No thank you! I will stick to horses”—even quipping that she would only accompany the squad on horseback.
Anne’s humorous refusal puts the contrasting athletic passions within the royal household into sharp relief, drawing an instant comparison to the Prince of Wales’ household. While the Princess Royal remains resolutely loyal to equestrian pursuits—having represented Great Britain in the Olympics—her niece-in-law, Princess Kate, has long been regarded as the Windsors’ most formidable long-distance running enthusiast.
Kate’s running prowess is well-documented, with royal cousin-in-law Mike Tindall famously nicknaming her an “engine” on his sports podcast. Tindall previously revealed that Kate would comfortably slot into his fantasy rugby lineup because “she can run all day” with unmatched cardiovascular stamina, running alongside her husband Prince William, whom Tindall praised as having exceptional sprinting speed. Nevertheless, despite possessing elite endurance and watching her sister Pippa Middleton conquer grueling marathons, the Princess of Wales previously conceded that running massive public events like the London Marathon remains entirely out of the question due to complex royal security protocols.