28 June 2023 , 13:23
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Princess Anne impressed with her fluent German in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony at the world's largest horse show.
Princess Royal, 72, gave a nod to her daughter Zara Tindall who won the World Equestrian Games in 2006 as she spoke at the CHIO Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.
Anne, a keen equestrian herself, took to the field to address crowds gathered for the opening night.
She said: "It really is a pleasure to be back in Aachen this evening.
"It was of course a more tense situation the last time I was here watching my daughter compete her final showjumping round before becoming world champion."
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Princess Anne, Princess Royal attended the CHIO Equestrian Festival (AP)"This is a lot easier," the royal added, to great applause.
The princess went on to describe the "honour" it is for the UK to be the partner country for the CHIO Equestrian Festival.
"It is an important opportunity for our countries to demonstrate our shared values."
Then, as she wrapped up her speech, Princess Anne opted to showcase her German.
She said: "With great pleasure I hereby declare open the CHIO Aachen 2023."
Princess Anne was given a bouquet of flowers after her speech (Getty Images)
The royal reminisced about watching her daughter Zara become world champion (Getty Images)Zara, 42, also celebrated a silver medal in equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics, presented to her by her mother.
Her 2006 success led her to become that year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Reminiscing of that joy, Anne, dressed in a white suit jacket and black and white patterned dress, took to the microphone for the special ceremony.
She had been greeted by the Minister-President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wust for the event, and was presented with a colourful bouquet of flowers.
The princess arrived in a horse-drawn carriage (People Picture/Patric Fouad/REX/Shutterstock)
Anne, a keen equestrian herself, impressed with her fluent German at the horse show (AP)Photographs show Anne, who herself became the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympic Games in 1976 in Montreal, Canada, arriving in a horse-drawn carriage.
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And the royal finished fourth at the Badminton Horse Trials in 1974 and sixth in 1979, having participated five times in the competition between 1971 and 1979.
It has been a busy month for princess, as she has attended the Royal Highland Show in Ingliston, Edinburgh, and Royal Ascot.
Britain is this year's partner country of the horse meeting (AP)Princess Royal, mother of two, donned a turquoise dress as she as she met with exhibitors in the cattle ring at the Scottish event.
She finished her chic ensemble with a cream blazer and accessorised it with a gold horse brooch and a necklace.
But the attire she chose for Royal Ascot - a white jacket - was actually a number she first wore 45 years ago, in 1978.
At the time, she debuted the dress as she and the late Queen Elizabeth II welcomed Botswana's president Sir Seretse Kham and his wife Lady Khama at Buckingham Palace.