Princess Royal shares emotional confession during South Africa trip
Princess Anne made a rare and heartfelt revelation about an unfulfilled wish during her recent royal visit to South Africa. The Princess Royal, who spent two days in Cape Town performing key royal duties, spoke candidly about her lifelong desire to sail dinghies—a dream that was never realised.
Speaking with young women at the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) in Cape Town, who are vying to join the Cape2Rio sailing team, Anne reflected on her connection to sailing. Jennifer Burger, manager of the RCYC sailing academy, shared insights from the Princess’s conversation.
“She told the girls, ‘You’re all going to have to learn to live together on the boat,’” Jennifer revealed. “She also mentioned that she was never allowed to sail dinghies and instead took up windsurfing for fitness.”
This rare glimpse into Anne’s personal life comes as she traveled alone to South Africa, with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, remaining in the UK to receive medical treatment for a suspected torn ligament.
Princess Anne’s openness resonated with those she met, highlighting her ability to connect through shared experiences, even during a challenging time for her family.
