When you think of the Olympic Games, you probably don’t think of them as being synonymous with love, but the Olympics have actually become a catalyst for some high-profile romances over the years.
We’re looking back at five royal couples whose love stories you might not have known blossomed at the Olympic Games!
King Frederik X & Queen Mary of Denmark
The love story of King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark is probably the most well-known.
The then-heir to the Danish throne, Frederik, crossed paths with Aussie born Mary Donaldson at a pub called the Slip Inn when he was in Sydney to support his home country of Denmark in the 2000 Olympics.
It truly was love at first sight, and the rest was history! The pair began a relationship together shortly after meeting and eventually married in 2004.
Since then, the couple have gone on to welcome four beautiful children together, and celebrated 20 years of marriage in May 2024.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Frederik and Mary celebrated their love story, with the Danish palace uploading a portrait of the couple at the opening ceremony.
“The strong community felt at the Olympic Games has always meant something special to both of us, just as experiencing the Olympic atmosphere together again evokes wonderful memories,” the caption read.
Prince Albert & Princess Charlene of Monaco
Both Prince Albert and Princess Charlene are former Olympians themselves, with Albert competing in bobsledding, and Charlene a swimmer for South Africa.
The pair met at a swim meet in Monaco in 2000, and they made their public debut as a couple at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
“It was incredibly flattering,” Charlene told Vogue of their meeting. “After seeing me swim, Albert asked my management for permission to take me out. We spent the whole evening laughing and talking.”
She went on to explain the connection they shared over the Olympics, saying, “It was clear that we shared the same passions; we both became very emotional watching the athletes. Sport is the common denominator of our lives.”
Albert and Charlene were married in 2011 and have since welcomed twins together.
Princess Anne & Captain Mark Phillips
Princess Anne is another royal who is a former Olympian, with the now-73-year-old competing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics where she was part of the British equestrian team.
Her love of horses and success in the sport of equestrianism is what brought her together with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips – the father of Peter and Zara.
Mark also competed at the Olympics in equestrianism, taking home a gold medal as part of the British team at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Sadly, their marriage didn’t last as they were divorced in 1992, but their shared love of the sport was inherited by their daughter Zara Tindall, who also went on to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, where she claimed the silver medal.
King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia of Sweden
The Swedish King and Queen met in a chance encounter at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and it was love at first sight.
The then-heir to the throne Carl was at the games to cheer on his home country of Sweden, while Silvia was working as an official hostess who welcomed guests.
The couple have been together ever since, and the King has described their connection as instantaneous.
“When I first saw her it said ‘click’ and it has kept clicking ever since,” he told reporters.
Despite Carl being under immense pressure to marry a Swedish noblewoman, his love for Silvia never wavered and they were eventually married in 1976.
The couple now share three children and eight grandchildren together.
Infanta Cristina of Spain & Inaki Urdangarin
A lesser known royal, Infanta Cristina of Spain is the elder sister of King Felipe VI of Spain.
She met her future husband, Inaki Urdangarin, at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, where he was playing for the Spanish handball team.
Inaki competed for their home country in the sport at three separate Olympics, and he has won two bronze medals.
However, the couple have since called time on their marriage, with Cristina filing for divorce in January 2024 after 26 years together.
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