Zara Anne Elizabeth was born in mid-May 1981 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London as the second child and only daughter of HRH Anne, The Princess Royal and her then husband Mark Phillips. She was christened July 1981 at Windsor Castle. Her name was suggested to her mother by her uncle, HM King Charles III thus, it is often said she is his favorite niece.
Zara attended Beaudesert Park School in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and Port Regis School in Shaftesbury, Dorset, before following other members of the royal family in attending Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland. She later studied at the University of Exeter and qualified as a physiotherapist. A renowned equestrian Zara qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and won a silver medal in the team event. Her mother, Princess Anne, presented her medal.
Mike was born October 1978 at Wharfedale Hospital in Otley, West Yorkshire as the son of Philip "Phil" Tindall, a banker for Barclays, and his wife Linda (née Shepherd), a social worker. He was educated at the private school Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield. Mike began his career as an English rugby union player in February 2000 in the 2000 Six Nations Championship. As well as winning the 2003 World Cup, he was a member of the England team which won the 2003 Six Nations Championship. Tindall played in eleven Six Nations Championship competitions from 2000 to 2011. He retired in 2014.
Zara and Mike met during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and on this day in 2010 their engagement was announced by Buckingham Palace. As then-required by the Royal Marriages Act 1772, HM Queen Elizabeth II gave her consent to their marriage in a meeting of the Privy Council on this day in 2011.
The couple married in late July 2011 at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 400 guests in attendance. The ceremony was followed by a reception hosted by HM Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood Palace.
The marriage has produced 3 children, Mia Grace in January 2014, Lena Elizabeth in June 2018 and Lucas Philip in March 2021. Zara frequently supports and attends events for various charitable causes, mainly revolving around spinal injuries, equestrianism, and children's charities. Mike, in his role as Patron for the Cure Parkinson's charity, regularly takes part in fundraising events and challenges to raise money for the cause which his father lives with.
Zara is not a working member of the Royal family however she attends family events such as weddings, funerals, Christmas Luncheon and, up until 2019, often seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour. Zara participated in the historic Vigil of the Grandchildren in honor of HM Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 alongside her brother, Mr. Peter Phillips, and her first cousins, HRH William, The Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Henry (Harry), The Duke of Sussex, HRH Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Mapelli Mozzi, HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Brooksbank, The Hon. James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn, currently known as The Rt. Hon. Earl of Wessex and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. Most recently she attended the coronation of her uncle, HM King Charles III, in May 2023.
Zara is currently 22nd in the line of succession to the throne.
HM Queen Elizabeth II (Grandmother)
Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (Mother)
