Princess Anne says she will stick to horses after declining invitation to run for charities

Princess Anne spent time with Sir Kevin Sinfield at the University of York during the second day of his 7 in 7: The Grand Finale ultra-marathon challenge for motor neurone disease charities.

A statement issued by the royal family read, “Wishing Sir Kevin Sinfield the very best of luck on 7 Ultra Marathons in 7 days, in support of the MND community and in memory of Rob Burrow CBE.”

It said, “The Princess Royal spent time with Kevin, as well as the brilliant MND Association staff, carers, families and supporters, who will join him on this remarkable journey.”

The Princess Royal serves as Royal Patron of the MND Association.

When Sir Kevin extended an invitation for her to join a leg of the challenge, the Princess Royal firmly declined.

"No thank you! I will stick to horses," she said. After a team member noted that nobody had ever accompanied them on horseback, Anne replied with a laugh: "That would be nice, perhaps a police horse or two."