The Royals at Rio – see who has been cheering on their nation’s athletes

European Royals have been hard at work again over the past two weeks at the Rio Olympics, handing out medals, meeting athletes from their nations, and representing their country’s on the world’s biggest stage.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal

A former Olympic athlete herself, the Princess Royal is a familiar face at international sporting events. As ever, Anne has been busy promoting sports and Britain throughout her 10 days in Rio. She travelled back to the UK on 12th.

The Princess Royal represented Britain during the three-day session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) prior to the start of Rio 2016, openly defending the World Anti-Doping Agency’s reaction to the Russian doping scandal.

Anne also attended the opening ceremony alongside the Dutch royals, King Philippe and Queen Malthilde of Belgium, and Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and was spotted enjoying some events with her husband, Sir Tim Laurence and Prince Albert of Monaco.

Alongside being (almost) jabbed in the eye by tennis champion Andy Murray with the Union flag, Anne handed out medals to the winners of the men’s rugby sevens. Here, the gold medallist Fijian athletes knelt down and clapped three times in respect for the Royal.

Fiji gained its independence from the UK in 1970, but is now a member of the Commonwealth and features the Union flag on their nation flag.

King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden

King Carl hosted a breakfast with the Swedish Olympics Committee and toured the Swedish housing on Wednesday. He and Queen Silvia attended a dinner hosted by the Swedish Embassy on Thursday, with invited athletes from the Swedish team.

Their Majesties actually met at the 1972 Olypmics in Munich, so attending the games must bring back happy memories for them.

On Friday Carl and Silvia met with equestrian show jumper Peder Fredricson, who took the silver medal for Sweden.

King Carl and Queen Silvia did, however, find some time to relax and watch their athletes competing. They were photographed cheering and clapping alongside King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane of the Netherlands at the equestrian events.

Queen Silvia’s mobile phone case attracted attention as she took a photo during the equestrian show jumping final, – the case features a smiling photo of her granddaughter Princess Estelle, future Queen of Sweden.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and the Princesses of the Netherlands

When they weren’t cheering on Dutch gold medallist Sanne Wevers in the women’s gymnastic beam final wearing their bright orange jackets, the Dutch Royals had a busy few days in Rio.

On Thursday 18th Willem-Alexander was able to present the medals to the winners of the women’s 200m sprint, including the silver medal to Dutch athlete Dafne Schippers. The Royals hosted several lunches and dinners for the Dutch Olympics Committee alongside Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway 

Norway’s future King, Crown Prince Haakon arrived in Rio just a few days ago. He has been to a number of sporting events, including handball.

Prince Haakon’s father, King Harald of Norway competed in yachting for Norway in the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympics, and opened the 1994 winter Olympics in Lillehammer, where Haakon lit the caldron.

Prince Albert of Monaco

Albert, 58, was also at the IOC President’s dinner. He himself was an Olympian, competing with the bobsleigh team in five winter Olympics. His wife Princess Charlene was also swimmer for South Africa.

The Monegasque Prince was spotted enjoying the swimming and dressage events, amongst others.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

Frederik and Mary have a long legacy with the Olympics, first meeting in a bar during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and marrying before the Athens Olympics in 2004.

The Crown Prince handed out the medals for the Greco Roman wrestling final and men’s sailing, where he shared a joke with the silver medallists, fellow Australians like his wife Crown Princess Mary.

Alongside medal awarding duties, the Royal couple hosted a function for Danish and Australian medal winners.

Spain’s Royals

The Spanish Royals did not make an appearance in Rio, but King Felipe and Queen Letizia met with the Spanish Olympics team in Madrid Airport before they flew to the games, and during the games their Royal Highnesses hosted an event for Spanish athletes.

Felipe was, in fact, a sailor during the 1992 Olympics like his father, Juan Carlos who competed in 1972 in Munich; Queen Sofia sailed for Greece in the 1960 games.

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