The Princess Royal and Duke of Edinburgh were joined by their respective spouses as they attended the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland this week
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NEED TO KNOW
- Princess Anne, Prince Edward and their spouses were in attendance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland
- The Commonwealth Games are held every four years and feature athletes from across the British Commonwealth competing in a selection of sports
- Anne and Edward were seen observing track cycling, weight lifting and more
Princess Anne and Prince Edward had a sibling outing at the Commonwealth Games.
Anne, 75, and Edward, 62, were accompanied by their respective spouses, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, 71, and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, 61, as they visited several sports venues in Glasgow, Scotland, to take in some of this year’s competitions on Thursday, July 30.
Like the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games are held every four years; this year notably marks the first time the event has been held since the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.
Due to a last-minute hosting shift that moved the 2026 Games from Victoria, Australia, to Scotland, this year’s event is a scaled-back version of the typical competition, with athletes from all 74 Commonwealth nations competing in 10 categories of sporting competition: 3×3 basketball, artistic gymnastics, athletics (track and field events), bowls, boxing, track cycling, judo, netball, swimming and weightlifting.
Six of the sports (3×3 basketball, athletics, bowls, track cycling, swimming and powerlifting) also have adaptive sport competitions at the 2026 Games.
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The Princess Royal and her husband were seen in the stands watching the athletics, weightlifting and bowls competitions, before they joined Prince Edward and Sophie at Scotstoun Stadium to take in the track cycling races.
Princess Anne has long been titled the “hardest-working royal” — despite the fact that her older brother King Charles edged her out for most engagements last year — and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have taken on more roles as senior working royals since the death of Queen Elizabeth.
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Anne, Edward and their spouses are the latest members of the royal family to make an appearance at this year’s Commonwealth Games, which close on Sunday, Aug. 2.
King Charles and Queen Camilla opened the Games on July 23 in epic fashion: by appearing onstage at the Hydro stadium in Doctor Who’s iconic TARDIS. The pair stepped on stage in shades of blue matching the 1960s-style police box used by the time-traveling titular character from the long-running sci-fi series, as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus performed “God Save the King.”
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In his opening remarks, the King praised the Commonwealth communities around the world for preparing for the Games with “generosity and pride” via the 500-day Baton Relay.
“Seeing the Batons arrive into Scotland today, in all their colorful glory, carried by inspiring athletes and para-athletes, reminds us once again that the Commonwealth is a unique and extraordinary family of nations,” he said.
“As we gather, we celebrate the dedication and talent of every athlete and team. Your perseverance inspires us, and we eagerly anticipate your achievements in the coming days,” Charles continued, extending his “warmest gratitude to the city of Glasgow, to all the athletes, to the organizers, volunteers and all those who have made this event possible.”