by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014
photo: USA Today/WireImage
Zara Phillips Tindall
Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips was born on May 15, 1981, at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, England. She is the younger child of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips and the second grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. Like her brother, she holds no royal titles or styles but is still a member of the British Royal Family. She is formally styled as Mrs. Michael Tindall MBE, however, she uses her maiden name professionally.
Zara and her brother Peter, 1984. photo: NY Daily News
Zara has an elder brother:
- Peter Phillips (born 1977), married Autumn Kelly, had two daughters, divorced
Zara was christened in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace on July 27, 1981, by The Dean of Windsor. Her godparents are:
- Prince Andrew, The Duke of York – her uncle
- Leonora Anson, Countess of Lichfield – a lady-in-waiting to her mother
- Helen, Lady Stewart – wife of Sir Jackie Stewart, a family friend
- Andrew Parker Bowles – a close friend of her mother, and former husband of The Duchess of Cornwall
- Hugh Thomas – a friend of her parents
Zara was educated at the Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire, the Port Regis School in Dorset, England, and Gordonstoun School in Scotland. She later attended the University of Exeter, qualifying as a physiotherapist, specializing in equine physiotherapy.
photo: The Telegraph/Mark Stewart
An accomplished equestrian from a young age, Zara participated in the 2005 European Eventing Championships, earning both team and individual gold medals. The following year she won team silver, and individual gold, at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Having won gold, she was the reigning Eventing World Champion until 2010. In 2007, she again won team gold at the European Eventing Championships.
Zara receiving her Olympic medal from The Princess Royal, 2012. photo: Rex Features
In 2006, she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and in 2007, was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to Equestrianism. Having been unable to compete in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games due to injuries to her horse, Zara was named a member of the 2012 British Equestrian Team for the London Olympics. She was part of the Silver medal-winning team event, receiving her medal from her mother, The Princess Royal, herself a participant in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall – photo: Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images
On December 21, 2010, Buckingham Palace announced her engagement to English rugby player, Mike Tindall. The couple first met in 2003 during the Rugby World Cup in Australia. Zara and Mike were married on July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. A reception followed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her grandmother’s official residence in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Zara and Mike have two daughters and one son:
- Mia Grace Tindall (born January 17, 2014 at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucestershire, England)
- Lena Elizabeth Tindall (born June 18, 2018 at the Stroud Maternity Unit in Gloucestershire, England)
- Lucas Philip Tindall (born March 21, 2021 at the family home on The Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire estate)
In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Zara is often seen at major royal events in the United Kingdom, such as The Trooping of the Colour. She is one of the godparents of Prince George of Wales, the son of her first cousin Prince William, Prince of Wales.
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