Princess Anne rode on horseback through Edinburgh on Sunday as part of the city’s historic Riding of the Marches, joining hundreds of other riders in a tradition that dates back more than four centuries.
First recorded in 1579, the event began as a practical check on Edinburgh’s defences, when mounted patrols inspected the city’s boundaries to guard against attack and assert civic authority.
Over time, it became a ceremonial spectacle, but it remains one of Scotland’s most significant equestrian gatherings.
This year, more than 200 riders covered a 26-mile route before entering the city centre.
Princess Anne beams on horseback over a year after traumatic head injury
|GETTY
The Princess Royal joined the procession along the Royal Mile to the Mercat Cross, where thousands of spectators lined the streets to watch the re-enactment and speeches.
Her participation carried added significance as she continues to recover from a serious head injury sustained at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire last year.
The accident forced Anne to cancel engagements, including the Japanese State Visit and a planned trip to Canada.
After several weeks of rest, she gradually resumed local duties and later returned to a full programme of royal engagements.
The Princess Royal joined the procession along the Royal Mile to the Mercat Cross
|PA
An experienced horsewoman and former Olympic equestrian, the Princess returned to public riding for the first time at Trooping the Colour in June 2024.
Earlier this year, she also visited the hospital where she was treated following her accident, though she has said she has no memory of the incident that led to five days in hospital.
In a profile published by The Times ahead of her 75th birthday in August, a source close to Anne said: “Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again.”
Princess Anne is expected to play a role in the upcoming state visit for Donald Trump and First Lady Melania.
Her participation carried added significance as she continues to recover from a serious head injury
|PA
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
The Princess Royal at the Mercat Cross during the Riding of the Marches in Edinburgh
|PA
She is tipped to join senior members of the Royal Family at the white tie state banquet, which will be held on Wednesday evening.
The visit will be Mr Trump’s second state visit to Britain and follows his first in 2019.
Anne’s involvement underscores her position as one of the Royal Family’s most active working members.
Her appearance at Sunday’s Riding of the Marches came just two days before the US President’s high-security arrival in the UK.