IT'S TO BE A ROYAL DOUBLE AT THE OLYMPICS
Two of the Queen's granddaughters will compete at Greenwich Park this summer as part of the British team.
Tue. 12th June 2012
Following the announcement yesterday that Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Phillips, has been selected for the British team, another announcement was made today revealing that another of the Queen's granddaughters will compete in this years Olympics.
Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Wales, along with her horse Antarctic Emperor who is also owned by the Queen, will make her Olympic debut in the equestrian sport of 3 day eventing, a sport that she has taken part in competitively since her teens.
The 25 year old is the youngest member of her team, a team that is also populated by of course her cousin, Zara Phillips, but also Mary King, Nicola Wilson, Kristina Cook and William Fox Pitt.
Despite her youth, her incredible win at the European Championships last year, alongside a number of other notable achievements, left the equestrian world thinking it would be very likely she would be selected.
Whilst some critics still doubt her skills, the voices are reducing. The scale on which they are reducing getting even bigger following such a public achievement last year. It is expected that after she competes at one of the most global and public of events, the critics will have no choice but to quieten.
Her horse, Antarctic Emperor but more commonly known as Rio, is certainly a character, quickly becoming a firm fan favourite after her debut at Badminton with him in 2009. Known for being quite excitable and spooky, it's likely that the horse will throw a few more interesting shapes than required during the three days. Not that that would be a worry to the Princess.
The pair have been together ever since he was bought by Her Majesty in 2002 as a yearling. Now, 10 years later, after forming what has been described as an "exceptional" bond, they are hoping to do the entire country proud at their first Olympics.
♔♕
"Good article." Bella said with a knowing smile, passing it over to Alex who was sat opposite her at the breakfast table.
"Is that because it sings your praises?" He teased back, taking a sip of tea as he opened the paper up in front of him.
"Don't be daft," her smile increased as she spoke, "it's because it says that the critics will 'have no choice but to quiten down'."
"Isn't that what I said?"
"No."
"Well," Alex began, placing the paper down next to his place setting, "it's true isn't it, they'll have to shut up when you're riding around London with your gold medal."
"Stop it!" She cried, "What have I said about jinxing it."
"Oh you don't really believe in all that."
"I do when it's the bloody Olympics... knowing me I'll fall off."
"You will not fall off." He insisted, leaning forward as he spoke, "your are Isabella Wales, 'exceptionally' talented event rider, you will not fall off."
Humming her response, she leaned back in her chair, "I just don't want to make a tit out of myself and then never be able to live it down."
"Stop being so negative. You will not fall off. You will not make a tit of yourself." Standing up, Alex moved round the table.
Leaning down to plant a kiss on her cheek, he stayed at that level, whispering into her ear, "I believe in you, we all believe in you, you deserve this Bella, go bring a medal home for us..." Grinning, he gently titled her chin, moving it up so that he had easier access to her lips which he planted another kiss on before adding with a wink, "it'll be a nice decoration for the Christmas tree."
♔♕
The amount of press they were going through was unbelievable. And it was always the same questions over and over.
Bella had decided after the third lot of being asked the same questions that it would be much easier for everyone involved if one person interviewed them, and then they all just shared the footage. But apparently it didn't work like that.
At least this one would be a bit different. This interview was just her and Zara, in the stables at the royal stud where Bella was based which also happened to be where all of the Queen's horses were kept.
"Well I must begin by saying congratulations, the two of you must be delighted to have made the team."
"Yeah, we're massively excited." Zara began, sharing a smile with Bella before turning back to the interviewer, "and so honoured to be chosen as well."
"Now Zara," he began, "you've been a contender for the Olympics twice now, and unfortunately haven't been able to go, but Your Royal Highness, this is the first time you've been in contention and you're going... are you glad that it's happened this way, that you're going together?"
"Um, I think I can probably speak for Zara by saying she'd have wanted to do the other two as well." Bella chuckled, completely ignoring the fact he had addressed her as HRH despite her saying otherwise, "but I'm obviously delighted to be going and as Zara said honoured to be chosen."
"Yeah no, as Bella said you know, obviously to have gone before would have been amazing but to be given this opportunity again, yeah, we're really happy."
"Zara you've already said that you'll be in the village with the rest of the athletes, your royal highness, will you be?"
"I'm hoping," she grinned, laughing as Zara interrupted with a tease of,
"She's really jealous."
"I am, I am." Bella laughed, "no I really want to, but, um... it's just a matter of persuading people with much more important jobs than me that um, I should stay there."
"Will you be roommates if they can be persuaded?"
"Is that possible?" Bella asked, turning to Zara with a questioning grin.
"Oh god," she replied, jokingly rubbing her hand over her face as she chuckled, "you've blown my cover now!"
"Oh is that so!" Bella's reply was accompanied by a shake of the head and a smile in the interviewers direction. Pointing at Zara, she chuckled once more, "it's not the men with important jobs stopping me, it's her!"
"Move on, move on." Zara waved at the man, "talk about the horses, she'll soon forget."
Laughing at the two of them, he shrugged, "well, it was actually the next question... so, um, Princess Isabella, Antarctic Emperor is 11 which I suppose is seen to be on the younger side of things, how do you think he will cope and are you hoping you'll be able to repeat the success of last year?"
"I'm hoping he'll be okay," Bella smiled in reply, "last year the crowds were quite big and obviously he managed really well with them, it's just making sure he keeps concentration and doesn't forget his job... but yeah, fingers crossed he'll be fab."
Her mind drifted off briefly as Zara was asked about her horse. She did hope he would be okay. The crowds were his nemesis in that he absolutely loved to play up to them but at the same time when he did that, he would loose concentration and then spook at anything and everything. Once that happened, it was like she was sat on a different horse. And she really, really didn't want that to happen.
"Obviously your family must be really proud of the two of you, does it make it extra special that it's the two of you together on the team?"
"Oh of course... even if she doesn't want to share a room with me." Bella teased, another laugh escaping her as Zara just gently shoved her in reply.
"And the Queen, I take it she'll be watching the two of you?"
"It's her horse." Zara quipped as she pointed at Bella, glad that she had been given the opportunity to get even with her, "no, but um, I think she will be."
"Yeah definitely."
"Your Royal Highness, Zara, thank you."
"Thanks."
The two of them waited for a moment as all the equipment was packed away, sharing a smile as they leant on the gate. Sending a final wave as the team that had conducted the interview walked off, Bella turned to Zara and said with a whisper, "do you think he knows my names not Your Royal Highness?"
♔♕
Bella was so bloody excited.
The men with important jobs had managed to be persuaded that she should stay in the village and take part in the opening ceremony with the rest of the athletes. After all, as Bella had told them, there was going to be 95 heads of state, the entire of the British Royal Family and a good deal of all the others, and then representatives of a further 30 countries, in her eyes there were much exciting targets to kill than her. And what was just one extra person with a load of security in the athletes village that was filled with the fastest, strongest people in the world, people that would be very valuable to spy rings and stuff like that. What was a mere Princess among that?
Thankfully, they had been persuaded. And now the excitement was really beginning. 10 days to go.
10 days until she took part in her first ever opening ceremony of the Olympics. Taking part as an athlete. In her own city.
10 days until it officially began.
12 days until her event. Until the day where she would try her hardest to ride the test of her life.
13 days until cross country. Until she would put all of her trust into Rio to get them home clear and inside the time.
And then 14 days until the showjumping. Until the final round. God knows what the result would be by then. Whether she would even still be competing. But part of her hoped, prayed, no, believed she would be.
She could do this. Bella could do this. She could prove every single person who had ever said she wasn't good enough, or had no natural talent, or that it was all bought for her, she would prove them wrong.
10 days. 12 days. 13 days. 14 days.
Until her life changed forever.
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