Zara Tindall’s equestrian ambitions keep her away from Royal family gatherings

Earlier, she competed in the Hartpury International Horse Trials, where she was supported by her husband, Mike, and their three children: 10-year-old Mia, 8-year-old Lena, and 3-year-old Lucas.

Zara began her summer with the Badminton Horse Trials in May, also supported by her family. However, her dedication to the sport has meant missing out on valuable time with the wider Royal Family.

Notably, she missed a reunion at Balmoral Castle with her uncle, King Charles, and Queen Camilla. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh also joined the gathering, attending a service at Crathie Kirk on August 25. The Wellington International Horse Trials were held over the bank holiday weekend, from August 24 to August 26.

A royal source previously said: “Charles really wants Zara and the family to join him on the last Sunday in August for the bank holiday service, but understands that her horse competitions are extremely important to her.

“Charles is hoping that they [the Tindalls] will be able to come up the week earlier to muck in with the rest of the family so that everyone can enjoy the picnics and walks planned on the estate.”

Zara Tindall’s demanding schedule shows no signs of easing, as the 43-year-old is set to compete in the Burghley Horse Trials near Stamford, Lincolnshire, from September 5 to 8.

The five-star event, one of only seven of its kind in the world, begins with dressage on Thursday and Friday, followed by cross-country on Saturday and showjumping on Sunday.

Back in 2003, when Zara was just starting her equestrian career, she finished as a runner-up at Burghley. She is following in the footsteps of her parents—her mother, Princess Anne, was the first British royal to compete in the Olympics, while her father, Captain Mark Phillips, is an Olympic gold medalist. D

espite her active summer, Zara notably missed out on one major sporting event: the 2024 Paris Olympics.