Royal Olympic love stories that didn’t last

By Hans Peters / Anefo - http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ac3a7c1c-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84, CC0, Wikimedia Commons




The Olympics have sparked several royal romances, but not all of them have ended with a happily ever after.

Princess Anne met her first husband, Mark Phillips, at the Olympics, and Infanta Cristina of Spain also met her ex-husband, Iñaki Urdangarin at the Games. Sadly, neither marriage has stood the test of time.

Princess Anne and Mark Phillips

Princess Anne competed as an equestrian in the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal but did not earn a medal for Great Britain. Mark Phillips competed in the 1972 Munich and 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games, also as an equestrian.

The pair met at the 1972 Olympic Games and hit it off over their shared love of horses. It was a successful Olympic Games for Phillips as he won gold in the team’s three-day event and began a relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth’s daughter.

Princess Anne and Mark Phillips dated for around a year before he proposed in 1973. They married on 14 November 1973 in Westminster Abbey and had two children together: Peter and Zara.

Phillips had an extramarital affair that produced a daughter in 1985. He and Princess Anne announced their separation in 1989. They divorced in 1992.

Infanta Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarin

Infanta Cristina competed in sailing in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul and was the Spanish flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony. Iñaki Urdangarin competed for Spain in handball during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He also competed in the 1992 and 2000 Summer Games and served as captain in 2000.

Cristina travelled to Atlanta to cheer on the Spanish athletes and met the popular handball player. The couple hit it off and their engagement was announced in 1997. They married in Barcelona on 4 October 1997. Their union produced four children: Juan, Pablo, Miguel and Irene.

While the couple had many happy years together, trouble brewed when both Cristina and Iñaki were put on trial for corruption. The Infanta was acquitted, but her husband was found guilty of embezzlement and was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison.

Infanta Cristina and Iñaki announced their separation in 2022. Their divorce was finalised in December 2023.

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About the Author

Brittani Barger
Brittani is from the United States and has been researching, writing and reporting on the royals for over a decade. Successfully gaining exclusives and interviews with royals across the globe, Brittani left her role as an editor for another news site to help bring you Royal News. She's been seen on BBC World, WION News and other news programs to discuss the royal families.

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