Princess Anne to host Olympic and Paralympic coaches in special celebration at Buckingham Palace

In a statement, Mark Gannon, CEO of UK Coaching, said: “We could not be prouder of our outstanding Olympic and Paralympic coaches, and it is an honour to see them recognised at Buckingham Palace.

"These dedicated individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes, focusing on helping others shine without seeking recognition for themselves, despite being integral to the journey.

“Coaches play a vital role in creating the right environment and culture for the people they coach to thrive. We remain committed to advocating for coaches, ensuring they receive the guidance, development and support they need to be their best.

"This moment in time is as much for every volunteer and grassroots coach, the foundation of our fantastic coaching workforce and who have themselves played an invaluable role, often at the very start of an athlete’s journey.”

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Princess Anne is the president of the British Olympic Association and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Anne, 73, who competed at the 1976 Games in the equestrian three-day event, also cheered the athletes on from the sidelines this year.

Kate Baker, Director of Performance and People at UK Sport said: “I am delighted we will be celebrating the extraordinary coaches who are integral to helping create the amazing performances we all enjoyed over the summer at the Paris Olympic Games.

"I look forward to many more moments at the Paralympic Games later this month.

"We believe that the UK benefits from being home to some of the best coaches in the world.

"We feel it’s important to champion and celebrate their dedication and hard work in supporting British athletes and their sports. What an incredible way to do so at Buckingham Palace.

“We remain grateful for the extraordinary support our sports, teams and athletes continue to receive from the public, The National Lottery and the government which helps power the very important team behind the team.”

Princess Anne spent two weeks in Paris, arriving ahead of the Opening Ceremony and meeting athletes from Team GB in the British embassy.

Throughout the Games, the 73-year-old was seen in the audience for the rugby sevens, swimming, equestrian, hockey and rowing events.

The former equestrian athlete was joined at some of the events by her husband, Sir Timothy, including at the men's hockey, which ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw between Team GB and The Netherlands.