Princess Anne enjoyed an afternoon cheering on Scotland at the rugby on Saturday, but she wasn’t accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, a fellow rugby enthusiast.

Instead, seated to her right was Colin Rigby, the President of the Scottish Rugby Union. A former rugby union player from Edinburgh, Rigby has held the role since 2022 and is a frequent companion of Princess Anne at rugby matches.

Anne dressed in a navy-blue coat paired with a blue and green tartan scarf for the occasion. She also wore her signature silver brooch featuring four amethysts, a piece she often reserves for Scotland’s games.

The match ended in victory for Scotland, with the team defeating Portugal 59–21.

Princess Anne has been the patron of the Scottish Rugby Union since 1986 and is a dedicated supporter, rarely missing a game. She shared the story of how she became patron during her appearance on her son-in-law Mike Tindall’s podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, in 2023.

“It was an accident,” she revealed. “They asked me to open the East Stand at Murrayfield when it was built. I had about two weeks’ notice because someone else had let them down. As it happened, the horse was lame that weekend, so I went. About a month later, they asked if I’d like to become patron.”

Speaking about her love for rugby, Anne explained: “Rugby offers a variety of talents within one team. You have to look out for each other, which brings a unique sense of responsibility. It’s a sport that showcases different skills and fosters teamwork.”