Multiple members of royal families from various countries, including reigning monarchs, have competed in the Olympic Games. Some, such as Constantine II, Harald V, and Felipe VI, competed before becoming monarchs. Abbie Pratt, Mark Phillips, Charlene, and Iñaki Urdangarin all competed before becoming royalty through marriage.
The tradition of royalty competing in the Olympics dates back to the Ancient Olympics, with leaders including King Varazdat of Armenia, Princess Cynisca of Sparta, and Emperor Nero of Rome all having competed. The first royals to compete in the modern Olympics appeared at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Abbie Pratt was the first royal to place in the top three at the modern Olympics, winning third place in the women's individual golf competition in 1900. The most recent royal to compete in the Olympics is Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The royal to compete the most times in the Olympics is Hubertus von Hohenlohe, who competed in the Winter Olympics six times. Five Olympians have come from the Spanish royal family, while four have come from the House of Glücksburg; Queen Sofía, who was a reserve member of the 1960 Greek dragon team, is a member of both families. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum was the first woman to represent the United Arab Emirates at the Olympics, while Arunee Bhanubandh was the first woman to represent Thailand at the Olympics. Adegboyega Folaranmi Adedoyin, the son of the Remo Akarigbo William Adedoyin, is the only member of an African royal dynasty to have participated.
List + Royal Olympians Olympian Royal family Country represented Sport Olympics Olympic medal(s) House of Riquet de Caraman France Fencing 1900 Paris None Malkom Iran Fencing 1900 Paris None Murat France Equestrianism 1900 Paris None House of Karađorđević (by marriage) France Golf 1900 Paris Women's individual, 1900 D'Annunzio Italy Art competition 1912 Stockholm None Hohenlohe Austria Fencing 1912 Stockholm None House of Hohenzollern Germany Equestrianism 1912 Stockholm Team jumping, 1912 House of Romanov Russia Equestrianism 1912 Stockholm None House of Glücksburg Norway Sailing 1928 Amsterdam Six metre, 1928 House of Bernadotte Sweden Equestrianism 1936 Berlin None Durrani dynasty Afghanistan Field hockey 1936 Berlin None Durrani dynasty Afghanistan Field hockey 1936 Berlin None Durrani dynasty Afghanistan Field hockey 1936 Berlin None Anoko Great Britain Athletics 1948 London None House of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Alpine skiing 1948 St. Moritz None Chakri dynasty Thailand Sailing None Hohenlohe-Langenburg Liechtenstein Alpine skiing 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo None House of Glücksburg Greece Sailing 1960 Rome Dragon, 1960 Bikaner India Shooting None Greece Sailing 1960 Rome None Fatimid dynasty Iran Alpine skiing 1964 Innsbruck None Chakri dynasty (by marriage) Thailand Sailing 1964 Tokyo None House of Glücksburg Norway Sailing None Spanish royal family Spain Sailing 1972 Munich None British royal family (by marriage) Great Britain Equestrianism British royal family Great Britain Equestrianism 1976 Montreal None Hohenlohe-Langenburg Mexico Alpine skiing None Spanish royal family Spain Sailing 1988 Seoul None House of Grimaldi Monaco Bobsleigh None Spanish royal family Spain Sailing 1992 Barcelona None Spanish royal family (by marriage) Spain Handball House of Bolkiah Brunei Shooting None House of Grimaldi (by marriage) South Africa Swimming 2000 Sydney None Jordan Equestrianism 2000 Sydney None House of Maktoum United Arab Emirates Shooting None House of Maktoum United Arab Emirates Shooting Men's double trap, 2004 House of Saud Saudi Arabia Equestrianism Team jumping, 2012 House of Saud Saudi Arabia Equestrianism 2008 Beijing None House of Al Falasi United Arab Emirates Taekwondo 2008 Beijing None Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Denmark Equestrianism Team dressage, 2008 British royal family Great Britain Equestrianism 2012 London Team eventing, 2012 House of Maktoum United Arab Emirates Shooting 2012 London None
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