Former Olympians Princess Anne and Prince Albert of Monaco Share a Laugh in Italy Ahead of 2026 Games

NEED TO KNOW

• Princess Anne and Prince Albert of Monaco were spotted sharing a laugh at an IOC event ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics
• Both royals are former Olympians themselves, and both have served on the IOC for decades
• Anne competed in the three-day equestrian event at the 1972 Summer Games, while Albert represented Monaco in bobsled events at five consecutive Winter Olympics from 1988 to 2002

Princess Anne and Prince Albert of Monaco are in Italy this week ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The European royals — who are both former Olympians themselves as well as members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) — were spotted sharing a laugh at the IOC session in Milan on Tuesday, Feb. 3, just a few days ahead of the opening ceremony for the Milano-Cortino Winter Olympics, which kicks off on Feb. 6.

The following day, the Princess Royal delivered a report to the 145th IOC session.

Princess Anne has an extensive history with the Olympics. In 1976, she became the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Games, participating in the equestrian three-day event. She did not medal; however, at the same Games, her first husband-to-be, Mark Phillips, won gold with the men's equestrian team.

She has been a member of the IOC since 1988 and also serves as president of the British Olympic Association. She attends each Olympics as a representative of Team Great Britain.

The Princess Royal was especially instrumental in coordinating the 2012 Summer Olympics, which were held in London — and famously featured an opening ceremony cameo from her mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, alongside James Bond.

Anne served as a director of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping to secure the winning bid for the Games years in advance. Then, as festivities began, the princess traveled to Athens to receive the Olympic flame and bring it home to begin the ceremonial relay race that culminates with the lighting of a massive Olympic flame at the opening ceremony.

During the 2012 Olympic Games, Anne even got to present a medal to her daughter, Zara, who won silver with Great Britain's women's equestrian team.

On the 10-year anniversary of the London Games, Anne reflected on the experience in a post on the royal family's social media pages.

"Hosting the Olympic Games is a privilege and a responsibility, and it’s not easy to do it well. I think we can look back after ten years, and say that London did it exceptionally well," she said. "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to everybody who made it possible."

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Meanwhile, Albert, the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, was a Winter Olympian. He competed in the two-man and four-man bobsled events for Monaco at five straight Winter Olympics between 1988 and 2002.

The prince was his country's flagbearer for three of those Games and has served as a member of the IOC since 1985.

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

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