A royal seal of approval! Princess Anne wishes Team GB athletes good luck as she visits their biggest-ever training camp before they head to Rio

  • Ardent Team GB supporter Princess Anne has been meeting with athletes
  • The royal visited the team at their training camp in Brazil's Belo Horizonte
  • Met Team GB hopefuls including marathon swimmer Kerri-Anne Payne
  • The camp, 270 miles from Rio, is decked out with Union Jack cushions
  • Other royals have missed out on this year's Games amid Zika virus fears 

Princess Anne was all smiles yesterday as she got the chance to visit Team GB's largest-ever training camp in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where they are busy practising for the Olympic Games.

Her Royal Highness, who is also president of the British Olympic Association (BOA), was accompanied by Lord Sebastian Coe, who is chair of the association.

Nice to meet you! Princess Anne (second left) meets Team GB athletes at their training camp

Nice to meet you! Princess Anne (second left) meets Team GB athletes at their training camp

Her Royal Highness was visiting the camp in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where they are busy practising for the Olympic Games

Her Royal Highness was visiting the camp in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where they are busy practising for the Olympic Games

The camp, some 270 miles from Rio de Janeiro, is decked out with Union Jack cushions to make Team GB athletes feel at home.

Anne, 65, who has been in Brazil since last week, got the chance to meet a host of Team GB hopefuls including marathon swimmer Kerri-Anne Payne, who won silver at Beijing 2008. 

The Princess also met Brazilian athletes from the Minas Tennis Clube where Team GB's boxing, fencing, judo, table tennis, marathon swimming and taekwondo athletes have also been busy preparing ahead of the Games.

Her Royal Highness, who is also president of the British Olympic Association (BOA), was accompanied by Lord Sebastian Coe, who is chair of the association

Her Royal Highness, who is also president of the British Olympic Association (BOA), was accompanied by Lord Sebastian Coe, who is chair of the association

The Princess inspects Team GB's rowing machines. Yesterday she met host of Team GB hopefuls including marathon swimmer Kerri-Anne Payne, who won silver at Beijing 2008

The Princess inspects Team GB's rowing machines. Yesterday she met host of Team GB hopefuls including marathon swimmer Kerri-Anne Payne, who won silver at Beijing 2008

The Belo Horizonte camp is decked out with Union Jacks to make Team GB athletes feel at home

The Belo Horizonte camp is decked out with Union Jacks to make Team GB athletes feel at home

The Princess also met athletes from the Minas Tennis Clube where Team GB's boxing, fencing, judo, table tennis, marathon swimming and taekwondo athletes have also been practising

The Princess also met athletes from the Minas Tennis Clube where Team GB's boxing, fencing, judo, table tennis, marathon swimming and taekwondo athletes have also been practising

Her tour continued at the Federal University of Minas Gerias, where Team GB athletics and swimming teams have been fine-tuning their training before heading to Rio de Janeiro. 

The Princess’s trip to Belo Horizonte ended with a visit to the San Diego Apartments, where athletes have been staying and indulging in a spot of R&R.

The Team GB Preparation Camp welcomed its first athletes on 22 July and will run until 15 August. In total, over 350 athletes and support staff from 14 sports will pass through the camp in preparation for the games.

Anne's tour continued at the Federal University of Minas Gerias, where Team GB athletics and swimming teams have been fine-tuning their training before heading to Rio de Janeiro

Anne's tour continued at the Federal University of Minas Gerias, where Team GB athletics and swimming teams have been fine-tuning their training before heading to Rio de Janeiro

The Princess¿s trip to Belo Horizonte ended with a visit to the San Diego Apartments, where athletes have been staying and indulging in a spot of R&R

The Princess’s trip to Belo Horizonte ended with a visit to the San Diego Apartments, where athletes have been staying and indulging in a spot of R&R

The Team GB Preparation Camp welcomed its first athletes on 22 July and will run until 15 August. In total, over 350 athletes and support staff from 14 sports will pass through

The Team GB Preparation Camp welcomed its first athletes on 22 July and will run until 15 August. In total, over 350 athletes and support staff from 14 sports will pass through

Anne inspects the pool at Belo Horizonte where swimmers will be practicing for the Games

Anne inspects the pool at Belo Horizonte where swimmers will be practicing for the Games

Anne dons her sunglasses as she visits the open-air pool at Belo Horizonte

Anne dons her sunglasses as she visits the open-air pool at Belo Horizonte

Paul Ford, head of pre-Games preparations, said: 'It was an honour to welcome Princess Anne to Belo Horizonte and the Team GB Prep Camp. 

'We are hugely proud of what is the biggest and best preparation camp we have ever run, no stone has been left unturned in helping our athletes give their best performances at the Olympic Games in Rio.'

And it seemed he wasn't the only one who was thrilled about the royals' visit, with Team GB sprinter Richard Kilty writing on Instagram: 'Watching the cycling with princess Anne. What an honour - cheering on our fellow team mates.'

Speaking of Anne's visit, Paul Ford, head of pre-Games preparations (second right) said: 'It was an honour to welcome Princess Anne to Belo Horizonte and the Team GB Prep Camp'

Speaking of Anne's visit, Paul Ford, head of pre-Games preparations (second right) said: 'It was an honour to welcome Princess Anne to Belo Horizonte and the Team GB Prep Camp'

Guest of honour: Team GB sprinter Richard Kilty (not pictured) wrote on Instagram: 'Watching the cycling with princess Anne. What an honour - cheering on our fellow team mates'

Guest of honour: Team GB sprinter Richard Kilty (not pictured) wrote on Instagram: 'Watching the cycling with princess Anne. What an honour - cheering on our fellow team mates'

Lord Coe said of her visit: 'I am delighted that our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was able to visit Belo Horizonte'

Lord Coe said of her visit: 'I am delighted that our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was able to visit Belo Horizonte'

Lord Coe added that he hopes 'everyone¿s hard work will be translated into Team GB success over the coming days'

Lord Coe added that he hopes 'everyone’s hard work will be translated into Team GB success over the coming days'

Extended stay: Last, week, Anne joined athletes including Andy Murray, Team GB's official flag-bearer, at the British House Reception in Rio

Extended stay: Last, week, Anne joined athletes including Andy Murray, Team GB's official flag-bearer, at the British House Reception in Rio

Lord Coe said: 'It’s remarkable what has been achieved at our preparation camp in Belo Horizonte. The athletes have enjoyed the best possible facilities and preparation. 

'The support we have received from the local authorities has been enormous and we owe the city and state a huge thank you for all their efforts and cooperation. 

'I am delighted that our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was able to visit Belo Horizonte and hope everyone’s hard work will be translated into Team GB success over the coming days.' 

Flying solo: other members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expected to miss out on this year's games due to fears over the Zika virus

Flying solo: other members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expected to miss out on this year's games due to fears over the Zika virus

Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, had qualified to represent Team GB but narrowly missed out on selection

Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, had qualified to represent Team GB but narrowly missed out on selection

Last, week, Anne joined athletes including Andy Murray, Team GB's official flag-bearer, at the British House Reception in Rio. 

Other members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expected to miss out on this year's games due to fears over the Zika virus. Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, had qualified to represent Team GB but narrowly missed out on selection.

 

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