Zara Tindall’s father Mark Phillips and the former husband of Princess Anne, won gold with the British equestrian team in 1972. Zara Tindall won a silver medal as a member of the Great British equestrian eventing team at the London 2012 Olympics.
It is not only British royals who have competed in the Olympics, Princess Charlene of Monaco, formerly known as Charlene Wittstock swam for South Africa in the Olympics in 2000. Her husband, Prince Albert of Monaco competed for Monaco in the bobsleigh event from 1988 to 2002 in five consecutive Winter Olympics.
As well as being the Spanish Olympic team’s flag bearer at the 1992 Barcelona games, King Felipe, the then Prince Felipe was a member of their Spanish sailing team. Other royals who have competed over the years Include Norway’s King Olav V in 1928, King Harald V of Norway in 1964, 1968 and 1972, King Constantine of Greece in 1960, and Princess Cristina of Spain in 1988.
Royals are not the only well-known faces who have competed in the Olympics, Jessica Springsteen, the daughter of the legendary Bruce Springsteen won silver with the US equestrian team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In 1948, actor Harold Sakata who played the villain Oddjob in the James Bond movie Goldfinger, won a silver medal for the US in weightlifting at the London Olympics. Take a read of other celebrities who were lucky enough to compete in the Olympics.
1. The then Charlene Wittstock of South Africa competing in the women's 200m backstroke heat during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
The now Princess Charlene of Monaco, known then as Charlene Wittstock competed for South Africa at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia | AFP via Getty Images
2. Zara Phillips of Great Britain riding at the Show Jumping Equestrian event on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games
Zara Tindall, known as Zara Phillips in horse riding, won silver at the London 2012 Olympics | Getty Images
3. Harold Sakata won a silver medal, the winner was Stanley Stanczyk of USA amd third was Klas Gosta Magnusson of Sweden
In 1948, actor Harold Sakata who played the villain Oddjob in the James Bond movie Goldfinger, won a silver medal for the US in weightlifting at the London Olympics | Getty Images
4. Princess Anne competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics
Princess Anne during the Mixed Three-Day Event Team Cross-Country at the Olympics in 1976 | Getty Images