Princess Anne begins her trip to South Africa alone

Princess Anne arrived alone in South Africa on Tuesday January 21. The sister of King Charles III begins a two-day visit to Cape Town, without her husband, whose trip was canceled at the last minute. For her first visit, Princess Anne was in her element, meeting young riders supported by an association.

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Sir Timothy Laurence cancels trip to Cape Town at the last minute

This January 21, 2025, Princess Anne of the United Kingdom, 74 years old, arrived in South Africa, an official trip that she was to make accompanied by her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence. He was not at his side when he left the plane in Cape Town, and for good reason, the brother-in-law of King Charles III had to cancel his trip at the last minute due to a fall which would have caused a twisting of the ligament. Sir Timothy Laurence preferred to stay at Gathcombe Park to rest.

The last visit by a member of the British royal family to South Africa was only in November 2024, when the Prince of Wales made a high-profile trip to the country, on the sidelines of the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. Princess Anne’s two-day trip began with a visit to the South African Riding Association for Persons with Disabilities (SARDA). Princess Anne, whose greatest passion is horse riding, was totally in her element. During this visit, Princess Anne presented riding certificates to the young participants.

Read also: Princess Anne crowns British Olympic equestrian champions at the Palace of Versailles

Princess Anne visits South African Riding Association for Persons with Disabilities

The sister of King Charles III has a lifelong passion for horses and competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics as an eventing rider. Princess Anne passed this passion on to her daughter, Zara, just as she inherited this equestrian passion from her mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Zara also participated and won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

The most symbolic moment of the two-day trip will take place during the inauguration of the Cape Town Labor Corps Memorial, a new monument which honors the contribution of South African servicemen in the First World War. This memorial is erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), an association which manages war cemeteries around the world and of which Princess Anne is president. The princess will ensure several other commitments in Cape Town with associations and foundations. The British High Commissioner will also host a reception in his honor.