From a young age riding was The Princess's great passion, and she soon proved herself an expert horsewoman.

She regularly took part in the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley and the Badminton Horse Trials. In September 1971 she won the individual European Three-Day Event at Burghley, and was nominated Sportswoman of the Year by the Sports Writers' Association, the Daily Express newspaper and World Sport (the journal of the British Olympic Association). She was also voted the BBC's Sports Personality of 1971.

In 1973 Her Royal Highness was a member of the British team in the European Three-Day Event Championships at Kiev in the Soviet Union. Two years later, in the same contest in Germany, she won silver medals as an individual competitor and as a team member.

The Princess also competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as a member of the British Three-Day Event team. This led in 1983 to her becoming President of the British Olympic Association for five years.

In 1986 Her Royal Highness succeeded her father as President of the International Equestrian Federation (IEF), a poist which she has since relinquished.

In 1988 The Princess became one of the two UK members of the International Olympic Committee. Her Royal Highness has been an enthusiastic supporter of the British Olympic teams at successive games since 1983, including the games in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004.

The Princess's interest in horses has resulted in her close involvement with many equine and veterinary charitable organisations, most well-known of which is her presidency of Riding for the Disabled, a position she has held since 1969.

The Princess has written a book about her love of horses and equestrian career, 'Riding Through My Life'.