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A Commonwealth Games-winning hockey player from Sussex said the Princess Royal was “surprised” when she told her she had needed to campaign to wear shorts to play the sport. Tess Howard, who was part of England women’s 2022 gold medal squad, was made an MBE for services to inclusive sportswear for women and girls, which she described as a “ridiculous” campaign. The 26-year-old was awarded her MBE at a ceremony at Windsor Castle on April 16.
East Grinstead player honoured for championing choice and comfort in sport (Image: Andrew Matthews) Ms Howard set up Inclusive Sportswear CIC to help other girls and women who want to take part in sport. She said that although she was "very honoured" to be awarded an MBE, it felt "bizarre" and "premature". Ms Howard said: "If I had an organisation like Inclusive Sportswear I wouldn’t have had to campaign for years to wear shorts in hockey, which is bizarre.
"The Princess Royal was surprised that I had to campaign to wear shorts. "It’s silly when you say it out loud. "It’s quite ridiculous that I’ve been given an award essentially for campaigning to wear shorts.
" Howard’s Inclusive Sportswear CIC aims to break down barriers for girls in sport (Image: Yui Mok) In 2023, the International Hockey Federation changed its rules to allow female teams to wear either skirts, skorts (a skirt with shorts attached underneath), or shorts, as long as they are the same colour and design. Ms Howard, who plays for East Grinstead Hockey Club, believes her organisation’s work has only just begun. She added: "My slogan is kind of, let’s fix this and move on with our lives.
" During the ceremony, the Princess Royal also awarded Olympic gold medallist Sophie Capewell an MBE for her services to cycling. The 27-year-old won gold at the Paris Olympics as part of the women’s team sprint, alongside teammates Katy Marchant and Emma Finucane. The Team GB outfit broke the world record three times on their way to victory, setting a new record of 45.
186 seconds in the final. Capewell, who was raised in Staffordshire, said: "It’s pretty special and a bit surreal." She said her father, Nigel Capewell, who competed in the Paralympics in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, had a big influence on her career.
She added: "I think growing up I used to say I want to be Olympic champion, and he helped me in realising that dream, he was a big part of that." Paralympic gold medallist Dimitri Coutya was also made an MBE for services to fencing. Coutya, 27, said the Princess Royal was "very personable" during the ceremony.
The two-time gold medallist in Paris has won more than 80 international titles since 2017. He said: "I think I honestly, when I was younger, I tended to like films that had some kind of stage sword fighting in it, and I found out it was an option for games in my school. "You know the first thing they tell you when you get there, it’s not at all like the film, but you know once you get over that initial disappointment, you really do fall in love with what the sport is, and it snowballs from there really.
" Coutya is targeting a fourth Olympic games in 2028, aiming to "keep improving", even as a champion..
