Mia Tindall

Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall (née Phillips) was born on 15 May 1981 in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London. She was baptized on 27 July 1981 at Windsor Castle. Her parents are Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips. She is the eldest niece of King Charles III. At birth, she was sixth in the line of succession to the British throne; as of 2025, she is 22nd in line.

Her full name is Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips. Her first name was suggested by her uncle, Charles, then Prince of Wales. Her godparents include her maternal uncle, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor; the Countess of Lichfield; Helen, Lady Stewart; Andrew Parker Bowles; and Hugh Thomas.

Zara has an elder brother, Peter Phillips, and two younger half-sisters, Felicity Wade (from her father's affair with Heather Tonkin) and Stephanie Phillips (from her father's second marriage to Sandy Pflueger).

She attended Beaudesert Park School in Stroud, Gloucestershire, followed by Port Regis School in Shaftesbury, Dorset. She later studied at Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland. During her school years, she participated actively in sports such as hockey, athletics, and gymnastics. She obtained a degree from the University of Exeter and qualified as a physiotherapist.

Her early life includes a notable baptism at Windsor Castle, and her name was chosen with input from her uncle, Prince Charles. Her family background involves connections to the British royal family through her mother and extended relatives.

Following university, Zara pursued a career in equestrianism. In June 2003, she announced a sponsorship deal with Cantor Index to support her equestrian pursuits. She competed in several prominent events, finishing as runner-up at the Burghley Horse Trials in 2003. She missed competing in the 2004 Athens Olympics due to her horse's injury.

Her competitive achievements include winning individual and team gold medals at the 2005 European Eventing Championship in Blenheim, and individual gold along with team silver medals at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. These victories made her the Eventing World Champion until 2010. In 2006, she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In 2007, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to equestrianism. She also secured team gold at the 2007 European Eventing Championships in Italy but did not defend her individual title in the show-jumping phase.

Zara was selected to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with her horse Toytown; however, she withdrew due to the horse's injury during training. In October 2008, she suffered a fall at a cross-country event in Pau, France, resulting in a broken collarbone and the euthanasia of her horse, Tsunami II, after a fall caused injury to the horse.

In 2010, she launched a line of equestrian clothing named ZP176, inspired by her team number when she first represented Britain. She participated in the 2012 London Olympics, riding High Kingdom, and won a team silver medal. She also competed in international events, including the Luhmühlen Horse Trials, where she finished second in 2013, and the 2014 World Equestrian Games, contributing to her team's silver medal.

She changed her professional surname from Phillips to Tindall in March 2016. She participated in the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2017, achieving third place on High Kingdom. Her top horse High Kingdom was retired in 2018. As of 2020, she became a non-executive director at Cheltenham Racecourse and was selected for the British Team in FEI Nations Cup events.

In 2021, Zara competed at the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, finishing 11th with Class Affair. In May 2022, she secured victory in the advanced class at the Chatsworth Horse Trials riding Class Affair.

Zara Tindall is actively involved in charitable work, supporting causes related to spinal injuries, children, and equestrianism. She has participated in fundraising events, auctions, and visits to hospitals and medical research charities. She has held positions such as patron of Lucy Air Ambulance for Children and Inspire, a medical research charity. She has also supported campaigns for children with disabilities and serious illnesses.

In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Zara launched a jewelry collection in June 2015, collaborating with Australian designer John Calleija. During the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, she participated in a vigil around the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall, and she attended the state funeral with her family.

She married rugby union player Mike Tindall on 30 July 2011 at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. The couple has three children: Mia Grace, born in January 2014; Lena Elizabeth, born in June 2018; and Lucas Philip, born in March 2021. Zara is also the godmother to Prince George of Wales.

Her personal history includes surviving a serious car accident in December 2000 and a driving ban in 2020 after accumulating points on her license. She was awarded the MBE on 30 December 2006 for her contributions to equestrian sports.