Zara Tindall may ‘turn down’ offer from Queen says expert

Zara Tindall, 39, is Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest granddaughter but unlike her royal cousins Prince Harry, 36, and Prince William, 38, she was raised as a private citizen. Zara’s parents Princess Anne, 70, and Mark Phillips, 72, chose to raise their children without royal titles allowing them to pursue their own careers as adults.

Both Anne and Mark were celebrated equestrians and Zara grew up to follow in their footsteps.

From a young age, Zara was passionate about horses having clearly inherited the bug from her parents.

In 2012 Zara won silver competing for Team GB’s equestrian team in the 2012 London Olympics.

Zara lives in a home of Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate where a key equestrian event is held every year.

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The Festival of British Eventing usually takes place in September in the stunning grounds of Gatcombe House.

Zara has competed in the event on several occasions over the years and her family are usually present to cheer her on.

After retiring as a professional equestrian Zara’s father Mark went on to make a career for himself as a course designer for equestrian events and has been photographed walking the course with his daughter at Gatcombe before.

The father and daughter are clearly bonded over their love of horses and Express.co.uk has brought together five photographs that show their sweet relationship.

2005 – European Eventing Championship

In 2005 Zara won the European Eventing Championship at Blenheim.

A photo taken at the time shows Zara celebrating with her father Mark.

Mark has a huge grin on his face and is clearly enormously proud of his daughter for clinching the prestigious title.

Mark had previously won the European title himself in 1971.

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2008 – Badminton

In 2008 photographers captured a tender moment as Zara stands with her family after completing the cross-country course at Badminton Horse Trials.

Her father Mark stands to Zara’s left smiling with Princess Anne nearby and Zara’s brother Peter Phillips beside her.

Zara was reigning world champion at the time and rode Glenbuck and Ardfield Magic Star at the world’s largest three-day event.

2010 – Badminton

In 2010 Mark was photographed walking the cross country course with Zara at Badminton horse trials.

As a respected course designer and celebrated equestrian Mark may have been able to give Zara useful tips on how to handle the course.

The photo shows the father and daughter deep in conversation and Zara has a thoughtful expression on her face.

2011 – Royal wedding

In a break away from equestrian events some of the sweetest photos of Zara and her father were taken on her wedding day.

Zara tied the knot with husband Mike Tindall at a church in Edinburgh on July 30, 2011.

The Queen’s granddaughter was photographed arriving at the church with her beaming father as he prepared to walk her down the aisle.

A smiling Zara waved gratefully to fans before her father ushered her inside the church.

2014 – Gatcombe Park

In 2014 Mark joined his family at Gatcombe Park for the Festival of British Eventing.

A photo taken at the time shows Mark seeming to share a joke with his ex-wife Princess Anne as Zara looks on smiling.

When did Princess Anne and Mark Phillips divorce?

Princess Anne and Mark Phillips finalised their divorce in 1992.

Anne went on to marry her current husband Timothy Laurence just months later.

Zara is currently pregnant with her third child and the royal baby is expected to arrive this spring.

Mark is already a grandfather to Peter Phillip’s two daughters Isla, 8, and Savannah, 10, and Zara’s two girls Lena, two, and Mia.

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