Zara Tindall

Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall (née Phillips), born on 15 May 1981 in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London, is a British equestrian and member of the royal family. She is the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips. As the eldest niece of King Charles III, she was born sixth in the line of succession during the reign of her maternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and as of 2025, is 22nd in line.

She was baptized on 27 July 1981 at Windsor Castle. Her first name was suggested by her uncle, Charles, then Prince of Wales. Her godparents are her maternal uncle Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the Countess of Lichfield, Helen, Lady Stewart, wife of Sir Jackie Stewart, Andrew Parker Bowles, and Hugh Thomas. Zara has an elder brother, Peter, and two younger half-sisters, Felicity Wade (née Tonkin) from her father's affair with Heather Tonkin, and Stephanie Phillips from her father's second marriage to Sandy Pflueger.

For her education, Zara attended Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire and Port Regis School in Dorset. She later studied at Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland, following the educational path of other members of the royal family. During her school years, she participated in sports including hockey, athletics, and gymnastics. She further pursued higher education at the University of Exeter, where she qualified as a physiotherapist.

After university, Zara Phillips pursued a career in equestrianism, following her parents’ footsteps. In June 2003, she announced a sponsorship deal with Cantor Index to support her equestrian pursuits. Her early competitive career saw her finish as runner-up at the Burghley Horse Trials in 2003 in her first four-star event. She missed the 2004 Athens Olympics due to her horse suffering an injury during training.

Zara achieved significant success riding her horse Toytown, including 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. Her victory at Aachen made her the Eventing World Champion until 2010. In 2006, she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year by the British public, an award her mother had won in 1971. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 New Year Honours for her services to equestrianism.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, she was selected to ride her horse Toytown for the British team; however, the horse was injured during training, leading to her withdrawal. On 25 October 2008, she fell from her horse Tsunami II during a cross-country event in Pau, France, resulting in a broken right collarbone, and the horse was euthanized after breaking her neck upon falling.

She launched an equestrian clothing line named ZP176 in July 2010, the number referring to her initial team number in international competition. Zara competed in the 2012 London Olympics, earning a silver medal with the British team riding High Kingdom. She also participated in various international events including the Luhmühlen Horse Trials and the World Equestrian Games, accumulating team medals and individual placements through the years.

In her personal life, Zara Phillips married rugby union player Mike Tindall, whom she met during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. They became engaged in 2010, and her marriage was approved by the Queen in May 2011 under the Royal Marriages Act 1772. The couple married on 30 July 2011 at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, with approximately 400 guests. The wedding dress was an ivory silk gown designed by Stewart Parvin, complemented by the Meander Tiara lent to her.

Zara and Mike Tindall reside at Aston Farm near Gatcombe Park. They have three children: Mia Grace, born 17 January 2014; Lena Elizabeth, born 18 June 2018; and Lucas Philip, born 21 March 2021. Zara is also the godmother to Prince George of Wales.

Throughout her life, Zara Tindall has been involved in charitable work, supporting causes related to spinal injuries, children's health, and equestrianism. She has participated in multiple charity events, auctions, and campaigns, including fundraising for tsunami relief and supporting air ambulance services. In 2015, she launched a jewelry collection in collaboration with designer John Calleija.

In September 2022, during the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II, Zara joined her family members in mourning rites, including a vigil at Westminster Hall and participation at the Queen’s state funeral.