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"path": "/royal/princess-anne-awkward-moment-six-nations-england",
"publishedAt": "2026-02-26T00:24:21.000Z",
"site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
"tags": [
"another awkward incident",
"Mike Tindall branded 'embarrassing' following controversial statement after England's defeat",
"Major police update issued on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest after officers raid Royal Lodge",
"William makes first appearance since admitting he was 'not in a calm state' after Andrew's arrest",
"reclaim the cup",
"The GB News Editorial Charter"
],
"textContent": "\n\n\nPrincess Anne has endured a second awkward moment at the Six Nations.\n\nBefore the game started, the Princess Royal, 75, met members of the England rugby team, ahead of the Calcutta Cup against Scotland.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nJoe Heyes, who plays as a prop for England, recalled the awkward encounter he had with Anne.\n\nUpon meeting Heyes, the Princess Royal confused the rugby star with former player Joe Marler, who made the final of The Celebrity Traitors last year.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nReflecting on the moment, Heyes said: \"She thought I was Joe Marler, which was…quite upsetting.\"\n\nAnne told the rugby star \"you're awfully funny on TV,\" to which Heyes admitted to being \"starstruck\" upon meeting the royal.\n\nHe joked: \"Who am I to correct her? I didn't really know what to say. I almost went with it.\"\n\nScotland won the match 31-20 and claimed the trophy, which led to another awkward incident for the Princess Royal, captured on live TV.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n * Mike Tindall branded 'embarrassing' following controversial statement after England's defeat\n * Major police update issued on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest after officers raid Royal Lodge\n * William makes first appearance since admitting he was 'not in a calm state' after Andrew's arrest\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAs patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, which she has held since 1986, Anne was responsible for presenting the Calcutta Cup.\n\nThe fixture, played at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, saw Sione Tuipulotu go collect the cup from Anne.\n\nScotland's captain appeared to go in for a hug with the Princess Royal in front of the live TV cameras.\n\nAnne backed off from the skipper and patted him on the shoulder with her right hand before handing Tuipulotu the trophy.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSpeaking after the game, Tuipulotu said: \"I'm extremely proud.\n\n\"To go through what we went through last week really hurt, and we understood because we deserved it. Ultimately, Italy were better than us.\n\n\"We really felt like our backs were against the wall, and we showed up today. I felt guilty. Head coaching is a hard job because when it is going well, you get all the positives, but when it is not going well, you get all of the criticism.\n\n\"We got behind our coach this week. I'm proud of the boys for getting behind our coach and delivering a performance.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe victory saw Scotland reclaim the cup for the first time since 2018, scoring four tries to two against Steve Borthwick's side, winning 31-20.\n\nThe result dealt a significant blow to England's ambitions of securing their first championship title since 2020.\n\nScotland has now claimed the Calcutta Cup on seven occasions during the past nine encounters between the two nations.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
"title": "Princess Anne endures ANOTHER awkward moment at Six Nations"
}