With many keen competitors gearing up to run this year’s London Marathon tomorrow, one member of the Royal Family has already secured that challenge tightly under her belt. Princess Beatrice is the only royal to have ran the London Marathon in April 2010.
The now-mother-of-two was just 21 when she compete the race dressed as part of a “human caterpillar” of 34 runners. The team were strung together two by two with bungee cords in an attempt to beat the record for the most people to finish a marathon while tied together.
Ahead of the event, the now-36-year-old – who ran for Children in Crisis – said she was “very, very excited”.
After having finshed the gruelling 26.2-mile race in five hours and 15 minutes, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were both present to congratulate their daughter at the finish line.
Raising more than £250,000 for a total of 13 causes, Sarah, now aged 65, said that she was “so proud” of her daughter and the entire team.
Beatrice’s team was led by tycoon Sir Richard Branson’s children, Sam and Holly.
Speaking after Beatrice’s triumph, another royal claimed that it is not something she would ever compete in – despite being known for her love of sports.
Journalist Bryony Gordon, who previously ran the London Marathon for Heads Together – once revealed that the Princess of Wales told her she would never take part in the race.
After asking Kate whether she would be interested in signing up for the race, the journalist said that the royal replied: “Oh I can’t, because security is a bit difficult.”
In response to Kate’s security comment, Bryony recalled: “But I was like, ‘Sure, yeah, yeah, good excuse. If I can do it, anyone can’. I thought, I don’t know why I’ve just said I can do a marathon, I can’t even run for a bus.”
She then added, “But she was like, ‘Oh are you going to do a marathon?’. I was like, ‘I guess I’m going to do the marathon!’”
