They were pictured next to
each other at various times during the event and the Daily Mail has
reported that they are girlfriend and boyfriend.
Mark Phillips and Florence Standaert attended the Burghley Horse Trials on Saturday. Photo: Geoff Robinson
Already familiar with the
grounds, it’s not the first time that Mark and Florence have attended the horse
trials, as they stepped out to support Zara at both Thursday’s and Friday’s
events.
It’s hardly surprising that
Mark has been in attendance all week, given his close relationship with his
daughter, not to mention his shared love of the sport.
The pair were pictured with a couple of dogs on the Lincolnshire grounds. Photo: Geoff Robinson
A former member of the British
equestrian team, back in 1972, Mark and his fellow teammates won the gold medal
at the Munich Olympic Games.
His reported girlfriend,
Florence, is also an experienced equestrian and was previously in a
relationship with Thomas Ryckewaert, who ran the Waregem horse trials in
Belgium until his passing in 2019.
While their reported
relationship has not yet been confirmed, the pair may possibly have met in
2020, when Mark, the ex-husband of Princess Anne, was tasked with designing a
cross country course at Waregem, which was being run by Florence.
Prior to his reported romance
with Florence Standaert, Mark Phillips was previously married to Princess Anne
from 1973, with the couple later divorcing in 1992.