Princess Anne, accompanied by her husband Timothy Laurence, attended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. The royal group was observed taking in various athletic events throughout the day.
Princess Anne, 75, was seen wearing a light beige trench coat and sunglasses. She was seated next to Laurence and Commonwealth Sport Vice President Hugh Graham at Scotstoun Stadium. Nearby, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 61, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, 62, also followed the competitions, which included hurdles, the triple jump, and the decathlon.
Sophie wore a summery linen blazer over a white top with khaki trousers, while Edward opted for a navy zip-up jacket and a polo shirt. At one point, Anne changed into a lighter denim jacket and a blue scarf, and was seen shaking hands with staff at the Commonwealth offices.
The royal attendees appeared to be in good spirits, frequently laughing and pointing at the action in the stadium. This outing comes as the BBC is not covering the Commonwealth Games for the first time in 72 years. TNT Sports holds the live UK broadcast rights, with coverage accessible via an HBO subscription. TalkSPORT is the radio broadcast partner. Limited free-to-air options include some coverage on BBC Alba and highlights on Channel 5.
The decision to not broadcast on the BBC has drawn criticism from fans and athletes, with some questioning the public funding model's commitment to national events. In 2022, the BBC broadcast 200 hours of the Games. Commonwealth Sport, the organizing body, has faced financial challenges and has been accused of prioritizing lucrative broadcast deals. This year's event in Glasgow features 3,000 athletes competing in 215 events, following original hosts Victoria, Australia, withdrawing due to projected costs. King Charles officially opened the Games.