Princess Anne's husband steps in for wife and jokes about 'Mrs Kane captaining England'

Princess Anne's husband stepped in for his wife and joked 'It's like asking Mrs Kane to captain England'.

Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, 67, left the crowd at Royal Hospital Chelsea roaring with laughter after attending the Founder's Day Parade in place of his wife.

Princess Anne was busy with another engagement as she attended Kensington Palace for Save The Children in the afternoon and the Royal Society Club Dinner in the evening.

However, it didn't stop Sir Timothy Laurence popping a few gags after admitting most of the people weren't probably there for him.

He joked: "Asking me to stand in for my wife at an event like this is a bit like asking Mrs Harry Kane to lead the England football team out.

"Or, possibly, to take a penalty for England as her husband did the night before last."

Princess Anne's husband stepped in for his wife and joked 'It's like asking Mrs Kane to captain England'. (Getty Images)

The Princess Royal was engaged with another event but her husband went down a treat with the crowd (PA)

He was there to mark the founding of the Royal Hospital by King Charles II in 1681, which is home to 300 military veterans who have served their country.

The event is normally attended by a Royal and as Princess Anne was engaged, Sir Timothy was called up instead.

His jokes went down a treat with the crowd as he continued: "I don't know Mrs Kane, and for all I know she may well have a very strong right foot, but in any case I'm sure she'd do her best, and so will I."

Sir Timothy Laurence speaks with pensioners during the Founder's Day Parade at Royal Hospital Chelsea on June 09, 2022 (Getty Images)

Sir Timothy Laurence's gags about stepping in for his wife left royal fans in stitches (Getty Images)

After his strong comedic performance he then, rather boldly, admitted he was a Tottenham Hotspur fan whilst in Chelsea, he joked: 'I know that's a rather dangerous thing to say down here in Chelsea, so I may need an escort when I'm leaving."

The crowd were left in stitches at his jokes as one royal expert, Victoria Arbiter, tweeted: "A dry and very witty open from Mr Princess Anne AKA Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence... what a great sense of humour he has."

On the balcony of Buckingham Palace, to view the Platinum Jubilee (PA)

Twitter users were in agreement and quickly praised his sense of humour as one user wrote: "This is what we need!!! More air time for the other members of the RF.

"They're genuine, funny & sincere in their love of supporting HMTQ whilst highlighting brilliant charities that otherwise might not get traction. Well done Mr Royal, you did her proud!'

Another added: "He seems so nice, very funny" and a user was left impressed simply writing: "So cute."