Princess Anne attends the Guinness Six Nations 2026 Round 1 match between Italy and Scotland at Olympic Stadium on Feb. 7, 2026.Credit : Marco Iacobucci/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Princess Anne humbly reacted when she realized the crowd at a rugby game erupted in cheers for her
The moment unfolded as the Princess Royal attended the Guinness Six Nations 2026 Round 1 match between Italy and Scotland on Feb. 7
King Charles’ sister is known for her down-to-earth personality and dedication to royal duty

Princess Anne was caught off guard when a stadium crowd in Rome erupted in cheers — not for the action on the field, but for her!

On Feb. 7, King Charles’ sister attended the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between Italy and Scotland at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Princess Anne, 75, was in Italy for the Milano-Cortino Winter Olympics, but she also made a trip to see the rugby game as the longtime patron of the Scottish Rugby Union.

According to a fan on X, the big screen in the stadium showed Princess Anne during an injury break, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Footage of the moment showed that the Princess Royal didn’t notice until her seatmate alerted her, causing her to laugh.

Princess Anne (center-right) attends the Guinness Six Nations 2026 Round 1 match between Italy and Scotland at Olympic Stadium on Feb. 7, 2026.Marco Iacobucci/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

The crowd kept cheering, and Princess Anne smiled.

It was a close game for the Princess Royal’s squad on Saturday, as Italy beat Scotland 18-15.

Anne has been a patron of the Scottish Rugby Union since 1986, creating a familial rugby rivalry with Prince William and Kate Middleton, who support the Welsh Rugby Union and England’s Rugby Football Union, respectively.

Princess Anne attends the Guinness Six Nations 2026 Round 1 match between Italy and Scotland at Olympic Stadium on Feb. 7, 2026.Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse/Shutterstock

Princess Anne is widely recognized as one of the hardest-working members of the royal family by count of official engagements recorded in The Court Circular and is also known for her down-to-earth personality. In December 2025, she signed her Christmas card simply as “Anne,” skipping her royal titles in a straightforward move.

The King’s sister has been in Italy since Feb. 2, before the Winter Olympics began, and attended an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on Feb. 3, where she shared a laugh with Prince Albert of Monaco.

Both royals are former Olympians and members of the IOC, and sat together at the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium in Milan on Feb. 6.

Princess Anne at the Olympics on Feb. 6, 2026.Jean Catuffe/Getty

It was a totally royal row, as Anne and Albert, 67, also sat with ​​Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, who abdicated in the autumn, and the Princess Royal’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

In a video message shared to the royal family’s Instagram as the Winter Games began, Princess Anne wished the British team the best of luck.

“Congratulations on your selection to represent Team GB at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. I hope you will have a memorable experience that will bring you not only lasting memories but also friendships and bonds that will endure throughout your life,” the Princess Royal began her address.

“To get this far is a remarkable achievement. It represents not only your talents on the field of play, but also the countless hours of hours requiring dedication and determination that have got you to this point… As your competitions begin, know that you will have the support of the nation. On behalf of us all, I wish you the very best of luck,” she said.