Royal Olympians

With the Paris Olympic Games 2024 about to begin, let’s take a look at some royal Olympians.

The Princess Royal

The Princess Royal was the first member of the British Royal Family to participate in the Olympic Games. She participated in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, riding one of her mother’s horses, Goodwill, in Eventing. She was injured with a concussion halfway through but managed to finish the event. The British team eventually pulled out of the competition.

Captain Mark Phillips

Princess Anne’s first husband, Mark Phillips, was also an Olympian. He was a reserve member of the British equestrian team for the Olympics in 1968. He won a gold medal with the British Team in 1972 in the eventing catEventinge placed 35th in the individual event. He also won a silver medal with the British team during the 1988 Olympics but had to pull out of his individual event.

Medals: 2

Zara Tindall

It is perhaps no surprise that the daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips also became an Olympian. As a member of the British team, she won a silver medal during the 2012 London Olympics. The medal was presented to her by her mother.

Medals: 1

Charlene, Princess of Monaco

The Princess of Monaco represented South Africa during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She participated with her team in the 4×100 metre medley relay and finished fifth.

Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Her husband, Prince Albert, competed in five consecutive Olympic Games for Monaco in the bobsleigh. He was also the flagbearer for Monaco on three occasions. Unfortunately, he never made it to a medal position.

King Felipe VI of Spain

The future King of Spain was a member of the Spanish sailing team that competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelone. He was the flagbearer, and the team finished sixth place in the Soling class.

Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikha Maitha is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She was the first woman to represent the United Arab Emirates during the Olympics. She participated in taekwondo and was the flagbearer at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Princess Haya bint Hussein

Princess Haya of Jordan represented Jordan at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney in showjumping and was also the flagbearer.

Infanta Cristina of Spain

Infanta Cristina competed in sailing in the Tornado event at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. She was also the flagbearer for Spain. She finished in the 20th place.

Prince Bira of Siam

Prince Bira was a member of the Thai royal family who participated in sailing events at the 1956, 1960, 1960, and 1972 Olympic Games.

Abdullah bin Mutaib Al Saud

Abdullah is a member of the Saudi royal family. He and his team won a bronze medal in equestrian show jumping during the 2012 Olympic Games. He also competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Medals: 1

King Olav V of Norway

The future King of Norway won a gold medal in sailing during the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

Medals: 1

Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

The daughter of Princess Benedikte of Denmark won a bronze medal with the Danish dressage team during the 2008 Olympic Games. She also participated in the 2012 Olympics.

Medals: 1

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum

Sheikh Ahmed is a shooter who won the double trap event during the 2004 Olympic Games and finished fourth in the trap event. He competed in the 2008 Olympic Games but did not make it to the final.

Medals: 1

Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia

Prince Friedrich Karl, a great-great-grandson of King Frederick William III of Prussia, was part of the 1912 German equestrian team, which won a bronze in the team jumping event.

Medals: 1 

King Constantine II of Greece

The future King of Greece won a gold medal in sailing in the 1960 Olympic Games in the Dragon class alongside Odysseus Eskitzoglou and George Zaimis in the yacht Nireus. He was also the flagbearer for Greece.

Medals: 1

Aga Khan IV

Aga Khan skied for Iran during the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck. He did not win any medals.

Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein

Prince Constantin is an alpine skier who took part in the 1948 Winter Olympics.

King Harald V of Norway

The future King of Norway represented Norway during the 1964, 1968, and 1972 yachting events and carried the flag in 1964.

Hubertus von Hohenlohe

A descendant of the rulers of the principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Hubertus is an avid skier for Mexico. He finished 26th in the 1984 Olympic Games. He then participated in 1988, 1992 and 1994. He qualified for the 2o06 Games, but the Mexican Olympic Committee decided not to send just one person. He participated again in 2010 and 2014.

Max von Hohenlohe

Max is Hubertus’s uncle. He was an alpine skier who participated in the 1956 Winter Olympics.

Prince Abdul Hakeem of Brunei

Prince Abdul Hakeem is a shooter who competed in the men’s skeet shooting events in 1996 and 2000. He failed to qualify for the finals in both games.

King Juan Carlos I of Spain

The future King of Spain came in 15th in the Dragon class sailing event at the 1972 Olympic Games.

Queen Sofía of Spain

The future Queen of Spain was a reserve member, alongside her brother, the future King of Greece, of Greece’s gold medal-winning sailing team during the 1960 Olympics.

Prince Michael of Kent

Prince Michael was a reserve member of the bobsleigh team for the 1972 Olympic Games.