Princess Anne: pregnancy rumours grow

Press, 19 October 1976, Page 16

Princess Anne: pregnancy rumours grow

NZPA London Princess Anne had quite a day yesterday. First, she saved a family of four from possible injury; and then, despite growing rumours that she is pregnant, she rode her horse, Mardi Gras, to record the secondfastest time among 150 competitors in a cross-country championship near Richmond, Yorkshire, the Press Association reported. The Princess competed in the United Kingdom championship, over 18 fences and two miles, with her husband, Captain Mark Phillips, having arrived two hours earlier and walked the course. Journalists who approached the Royal couple were intercepted by members of the Royal entourage, who said that there was no comment on rumours that the Princess might be expecting a baby. There was drama when the Princess, accompanied by her husband and the two other members of her team, were making their way towards the start during the crosscountry event: several people were walking backwards as they watched her, and failed

to notice that they had wandered on to the course in ’front of the thirteenth fence just as another team of four horses was approaching it. The Princess, realising the danger, shouted out twice: “Watch your backs!” — and several people scattered just in time to avoid a collision with the oncoming horses and riders. Princess Anne completed a faultless round, overtaking her husband, on Cassette, two-thirds of the way round, and led her four-strong team home. Their combined time was good enough to give them second place among the 15 teams competing, and earn them a cheque for £2OO. The Princess’s time, four minutes and 26 seconds, was the second-fastest of the 150 competitors who had gone around in two events during the day. Mrs Joy Trotter, who organised the event, said: “The Princess jumped brilliantly. This is a very difficult course." Asked about the rumours concerning the Princess, she replied: “I just don’t know. How can we know? I have not spoken to her today."