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Princess Anne Mistakes England Prop Joe Heyes for TV Star Joe Marler at Calcutta Cup

Heyes says he stayed quiet, feeling starstruck.

Overview

  • Heyes recounted that the Princess Royal told him he was "awfully funny on TV," believing he was former England prop Joe Marler.
  • Princess Anne, patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, greeted both teams at Murrayfield before the match and later presented the trophy to Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu after a 31-20 win.
  • Heyes said he chose not to correct the mix-up because he was starstruck and unsure how to respond.
  • Marler retired from England duty in 2024 and rose to wider fame on the BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors in 2025, which drew a reported 14.9 million viewers for the finale.
  • Heyes joked that people often say he looks like Marler, noting this was the first time a member of the royal family made the comparison.