Zara Phillips MBE
Born	Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (1981-05-15) 15 May 1981 (age 31) St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London
Alma mater	University of Exeter
Religion	Christian (Church of England)
Spouse	Michael Tindall (30 July 2011 - present)
Parents	Mark Phillips Anne, Princess Royal
Relatives	Peter Phillips (brother) Elizabeth II (grandmother) Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (grandfather)

Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall MBE (née Phillips; born 15 May 1981), known commonly as Zara Phillips, is the second child and only daughter of Anne, Princess Royal and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips and is 14th in the line of succession to the throne. She is married to former England rugby union player Mike Tindall, but has kept her own name for professional purposes, referring to herself otherwise as "Mrs Tindall".^[1] She is listed as 14th in the line of succession to the 16 Commonwealth realms as Mrs Michael Tindall.^[2]

An equestrian, Phillips won the Eventing World Championship in Aachen in 2006. The same year she was voted 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year by the British viewing public (an award her mother won in 1971). She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 New Year's Honours List by her grandmother for her services to equestrianism.She has also carried an Olympic flame at Cheltenham Racecourse on her horse Toytown ^[3]

Early life[link]

She is the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At the time of her birth she was sixth in line to succeed her grandmother, the Queen. As of the birth of her niece Isla Phillips in 2012, she is 14th in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 independent countries.

She has an older brother, Peter Phillips, born 15 November 1977, and two half-sisters, Felicity Tonkin, born in 1985 to her father by his brief affair with Heather Tonkin,^[4] and Stephanie Phillips, born 2 October 1997 from her father's second marriage to Sandy Pflueger.

At the request of their mother,^[5] the children of the Princess Royal do not hold any royal or noble title, nor are they automatically entitled to royal status by right of birth, as they are the grandchildren of a monarch in the female line.

During her schooldays, latterly at Gordonstoun, she excelled at many sporting activities. She represented her schools in hockey, athletics and gymnastics.^[6] She later qualified as a physiotherapist specialising in Equine Physiotherapy, from the University of Exeter.^[7]

Marriage[link]

On 21 December 2010, Buckingham Palace announced her engagement to rugby union player Mike Tindall, who plays for Premiership side Gloucester and the England national team. She received a diamond and platinum engagement ring from Tindall.^[8] She lives with Tindall at their home in Gloucestershire. The couple met during England's Rugby World Cup-winning campaign in Australia in 2003, being introduced by Zara's cousin, Prince Harry.^[9] The wedding was held on 30 July 2011 at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland.^[10][11] The bride wore a Stewart Parvin dress and the Meander tiara.^[12] This tiara belonged to her great-grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, who became Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark. It was a tiara that Anne, Princess Royal also wore.^[13]

Equestrian[link]

Zara Phillips riding Glenbuck at Badminton Horse Trials 2010

Following in both her parents' footsteps, Phillips is an accomplished equestrian.^[14] In June 2003, she announced that she had secured a sponsorship deal with Cantor Index, a leading company in spread betting, to help cover the costs of her equestrian career.

Riding her horse Toytown, she collected individual and team gold medals at the 2005 European Eventing Championship in Blenheim and individual gold and team silver medals at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, making her the reigning Eventing World Champion until 2010.

Despite winning team gold at the 2007 European Eventing Championships in Italy, she failed successfully to defend her own individual title after a problem in the show jumping phase of the competition.^[15]

It was announced by the British Olympic Association that Phillips would be riding Toytown for the British equestrian team at the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 in Hong Kong.^[16] However, an injury sustained by Toytown during training led to her being forced to withdraw from the team. Zara previously missed the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, when Toytown suffered a similar injury during training.^[17]

On 25 October 2008, she fell from her horse, Tsunami II, at the 15th fence of a cross-country event at Pau, France, and broke her right collarbone. The horse broke its neck after it had tipped over the hedge and was put down.^[18]

Royal engagements[link]

Phillips supports many charitable causes. In 2003, she and Princess Anne took part in the first UK double ship-naming ceremony in Southampton. Princess Anne named the P&O Cruises liner Oceana, and Phillips named its sister ship Adonia.

She frequently attends various events for charity and has taken to supporting certain causes herself, mainly for spinal injuries, equestrian charities and children's causes. In 2005, she auctioned one of her evening gowns (worn at the London premiere of the film Seabiscuit) to raise money for tsunami relief. She also undertook a visit to New Zealand in her role as patron of The Catwalk Trust. From 1998 to 2005 she served as the president of Club 16-24, a group which encourages young people to take an interest in racing. She is linked to INSPIRE, the Salisbury based medical research charity which helps to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries, and Sargent Cancer Care for Children, the UK's leading children's cancer charity.

She appears at events for The Caudwell Charitable Trust, which is targeted at children with special needs, disabilities and serious illnesses. She has continued her family's long patronage of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and has visited on many occasions. In 2006, she took part in a special charity day for Cantor Index, whose staff were killed in the 11 September 2001 attacks. In 2007, she became patron of the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund.^[19] To help with Sport Relief 2008, she posed for her first official royal portrait by artist Jack Vettriano.^[20] In 2009, she attended a celebrity poker tournament in Monaco in aid of Darfur, Sudan.^[21] In September 2010, she attended the 2012 London Olympic Ball alongside cousin Prince Harry of Wales. In October of the same year she attended another celebrity poker tournament, this time in London, in aid of Cancer Research UK, of which she is Royal Patron.

Clothing design[link]

In 2009 it was announced that Phillips would be designing her own range of equestrian clothing for Musto Outdoor Clothing.^[22][23] The range is named ZP176 after the team number Zara was given when she first represented her country. The range was officially launched in July 2010.^[24]

Titles, styles, honours and arms[link]

• 15 May 1981 - 1 January 2007: Miss Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips
• 1 January 2007 - 30 July 2011: Miss Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips, MBE
• 30 July 2011 – present: Mrs. Michael James Tindall, MBE

Arms[link]

Arms of Zara Phillips Notes Zara bears her father's arms on a lozenge[25] Escutcheon Per chevron azure and Or, in chief a horse courant argent, and in base a sprig of forget-me-not flowers, slipped and leaved proper.

Ancestry[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Zara Phillips at the Internet Movie Database
• Zara follows mother's trail to the top

Mike Tindall

Full name	Michael James Tindall
Date of birth	(1978-10-18) 18 October 1978 (age 33)
Place of birth	Otley, England
Height	185cm (6 ft)
Weight	100kg[1] (220 pounds)
School	Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield.
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Centre
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1997–2005 2005–	Bath Gloucester	85 116	(133) (83)
correct as of 4 February 2007.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2000–	England	75	(74)
correct as of 28 Feb 2009.

Michael James Tindall, MBE (born 18 October 1978) is an English rugby player who plays outside centre for Gloucester Rugby and has captained the England team. He is married to Zara Phillips, the daughter of the Princess Royal and the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.^[2]

Early life[link]

Tindall was born in Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, and was educated at the private school, fee-paying Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, while his father Phil captained Otley.^[3][4]

Career[link]

Bath[link]

Tindall joined Bath straight from school, as an 18-year-old in 1997. At that point the centre pairing at Bath and England were Jeremy Guscott and Phil de Glanville. But after the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Tindall played regularly at both club and country level, making his debut against Ireland at Twickenham in 2000 alongside Mike Catt.

Despite criticism over the years, in particular from Will Carling and ex-Bath fly-half Stuart Barnes,^[5] he cemented the outside centre position as his own with a partnership with inside centre Will Greenwood, playing in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Tindall played in the number 12 jersey and played at outside centre, with Greenwood in the number 13. The shirt numbers often misled people into thinking they played the other way round but Tindall usually lined up outside Greenwood. He was dropped for the semi-final in favour of Mike Catt, whose kicking was required in the rainy weather, but Tindall was reinstated in the final.

Tindall missed the 2005 Six Nations with a foot injury and subsequently failed to regain his fitness for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Described by England's former head coach, Andy Robinson as the 'heartbeat' of the side, Tindall was gradually finding his way back to form following a lengthy absence from the game during 2005.

Tindall's contract was up for renewal, but Bath had a strict salary cap policy, and after falling out with Bath owner Andrew Brownsword over the offer of an early testimonial game and further concerns over his long term fitness, Tindall ended his eight year association with Bath and joined their West Country rivals Gloucester Rugby on a three year deal worth £150,000.^[6]

Gloucester Rugby[link]

After returning from injury in the autumn of 2005, Tindall regained his England place but this time at number 12. However at club level he continued to play at 13 with the 12 shirt going to Henry Paul. The partnership was heavily criticised as being flat and boring and Tindall spent much of the season showing a poor run of form despite selection week in, week out. It wasn't until an incident at Tindall's girlfriend's birthday party that Henry Paul broke club rules and fell out of favour with Gloucester Rugby coach, Dean Ryan. This brought in the introduction of young centre Anthony Allen, which towards the end of the season helped forged what became the start of a very powerful centre partnership. His partnership with Jamie Noon for England was much criticised, with many people claiming that the bulky partnership lacked imagination and play-making ability.^[7] Tindall has a strong cult following however, and is often nicknamed "The Fridge" due to his sizeable bulk.

Mike Tindall with the Webb Ellis Cup

During his recuperation from another injury in 2005, Tindall entered the prestigious British Poker Open tournament, finishing in 3rd place in his heat before being eliminated by John Gale. On 18 November 2006 Tindall made his first Guinness Premiership start of the season against third-placed Wasps. Troubled by a calf injury so far into the 2006/07 season, he had made only two appearances as a replacement, against Worcester and Irish^[8] Tindall came back from his injury however with a much more highly rated run of form. His 10, 12 and 13 partnership of Ryan Lamb, Anthony Allen and himself inspired him to play more attacking and exciting rugby and since has become a Gloucester Rugby favourite. Gloucester supporters now affectionately hold him with high regard and he continued the season extremely well in helping Gloucester Rugby with his own running abilities, powerful defence and tactical kicking to top spot of the Guinness Premiership.

Tindall was again included in the England starting line up for the 2007 Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham, under new head coach Brian Ashton. Selected to play outside former Rugby League star Andy Farrell, the pair combined to make what is arguably the largest centre partnership in international history.

In April 2007 playing away against Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership, Tindall broke his leg in a tackle on Toby Flood and this forced him to miss the rest of the season, including the Guinness Premiership final, where his leadership would have been critical in a young backline. This also precluded his selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.^[9]

In October 2007, after recovering from injury, Tindall returned to the Gloucester Rugby starting line up, against Worcester Warriors at home, in the Guinness Premiership. Tindall had a fairytale comeback, scoring a try to the Shed's delight. He has since played most of Gloucester Rugby's games scoring a handful of tries including one against Ulster Rugby in the Heineken Cup, where he contributed to Gloucester Rugby setting a new record in the Tournament's history, the fastest time to score four tries and collect the try bonus point.

Tindall during 2011 RWC

On 7 December 2007 against Bourgoin in the Heineken Cup, Tindall limped off the field with a severe shin injury sustained in a similar tackle from that against Newcastle the previous season when Tindall broke his leg. Despite this injury, Tindall recovered quickly and played the following week, continuing his form for Gloucester.

In February 2008 Tindall was named in England head coach Brian Ashton's squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship, and thus started for England at outside centre against Wales at Twickenham on 2 February 2008. During the match against Wales, he was accidentally kicked in the chest by winger Mark Jones and had to be stretchered off. He had attempted to win possession just as Jones was kicking the ball away. He was ruled out of the tournament with internal bleeding and a perforated liver.^[10]

Tindall stated in a press conference that he was happy just to be alive after his ordeal, but was looking forward to returning to the rugby field for Gloucester in what he hoped would be towards the "business end of the season" (April), however, this seemed quite unlikely bearing in mind his ordeal. In January 2008, Tindall announced a new three year deal signed to remain at Gloucester Rugby until the end of the 2011 season. In April 2012, Gloucester announced that Mike Tindall would be part of a group of eleven players not playing for the club next season.^[11]

2011 Rugby World Cup misconduct[link]

On 11 November 2011, Tindall was fined £25,000 by the Rugby Football Union and was removed from its elite player squad as a result of his throwing a dwarf in Queenstown, New Zealand during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Martin Johnson, the England manager, had initially supported Tindall, but it later became clear that management, including Johnson, had been misled. After a formal enquiry, the RFU said that Tindall's actions were unacceptable and would not be tolerated. Tindall said he intended to appeal against the decision.^[12][13]

On 28 November 2011 the appeal partly succeeded. Tindall's suspension from the England squad was set aside and the fine was reduced to £15,000. One of the reasons given for his partially successful appeal was that he had not intentionally misled Johnson, because he did not remember the relevant events.^[14]

Personal life[link]

On 21 December 2010 it was announced that he was engaged to Zara Phillips, the daughter of the Princess Royal and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips. Phillips is the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The wedding was held on 30 July 2011 at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh with the attendance of all senior members of the Royal Family.

Criminal convictions[link]

Tindall has two criminal convictions for drink-driving.^[15] The earlier conviction, in 2000, resulted in a 16-month disqualification (which was in itself in excess of the obligatory 12-month disqualification for a first offence).^[16] On 8 January 2009 he was again convicted of drink-driving, was banned from driving for three years and fined £500, with £75 costs. This was the consequence of an incident on the M4 motorway on 15 March 2008 when Tindall was stopped by Gloucestershire Police who required Tindall to take a breath test, following a day out at Cheltenham Racing Festival with Zara Phillips.

Ancestry[link]