Princess Anne Says She Feels Pressure to Keep Up with Queen Elizabeth in Rare Interview

Princess Anne just revealed that she feels pressure to keep up with her mom, Queen Elizabeth, who is an avid horseback rider at the wise age of 93.

The Princess Royal, 69, recently sat down for a rare interview with Horse & Hound magazine, where she discussed the family’s passion for equestrian activities. While she regularly rides with the monarch, Princess Anne joked that her mom is setting the standard extremely high.

When asked if she’ll continue riding horses, Princess Anne replied, “Well, my mother still rides at the age of 93. I don’t think there would be much excuse if I didn’t.”

The Princess Royal became involved with horses at a young age. When she was just 19 years old, she became a patron of Riding for the Disabled, a U.K. charity that helps children and adults engage in equestrian activities.

The royal went on to say that animal therapy has shaped her adulthood. “In some ways, what we do hasn’t changed at all,” she added. “The observation that being on the back of an animal, small or large, can make a huge difference to mental and maybe physical wellbeing is as true today as it was then.”

Princess Anne was the first member of the royal family to participate in the Olympics. She competed in Equestrian Eventing at the 1976 Games in Montreal, Canada, with the queen’s beloved horse Goodwill. She also earned a gold medal at the European Eventing Championships in 1971, followed by two silvers in 1975.

Like mother, like daughter.