The Truth About Princess Anne And Zara Tindall's Relationship

In the wake of Prince Philip's death, Princess Anne has been stepping up for her mother Queen Elizabeth II by presiding over several royal functions. The latest of these was the annual sitting of the Isle of Man's parliament on July 5, per the BBC. Princess Anne's presence at the event seems to confirm reports that both Anne and Prince Charles will shoulder greater royal responsibilities after the death of their father, per Express.

But while Princess Anne — as the second daughter of Queen Elizabeth — has plenty of royal obligations to fulfill, her daughter Zara Tindall (formerly Phillips) doesn't have the same pressures placed on her. This is because Zara and her brother Peter Phillips weren't given titles from the queen, and have chosen to pursue interests beyond the crown (via Express). Zara seems to have capitalized on this freedom by honing her equestrian talents. In 2006, she was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, an honor she followed up on a year later by winning gold and silver at the World Equestrian Games in Germany (per Horse and Hound). "I'm very lucky that both my parents decided to not use the title and we grew up and did all the things that gave us the opportunity to do," Zara shared with The Times in 2015. Still, because she hasn't been in the spotlight like her cousins, Princes Harry and William, there's a lot people don't know about Zara, including the details of her relationship with Princess Anne.

Amid headlines that Prince Harry is estranged from the rest of his family, it's refreshing to know that some royals still maintain close ties. This includes Princess Anne and Zara Tindall, who have navigated bumps in the road on the way to a mutual respect. Though Zara (who is 19th in line for the throne) doesn't cope with the same pressures as other members of her family, she is in awe of her mother's work ethic and dedication. "She's like a sponge, it's unbelievable the information that is stored in her brain," Zara revealed in a 2020 ITV documentary, per Express. "It's incredible."

This like-minded respect was forged on the back of a shared passion for riding. When Zara nabbed silver at the 2012 Summer Olympics, it was her proud mother, Princess Anne, who was on hand to present her with the medal, according to Hello Magazine. (The moment was especially poignant as Princess Anne had been the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympics years earlier, but had not medaled.) Of the pair's relationship, body language expert Judi James told Express that their mannerisms "define them as intense sharers, with their matching traits of professionalism and their intense passion for horses." In more good news, Zara is clearly well-liked throughout the royal family too, as she told GoodTo that she is often on the receiving end of "the good look" from her grandmother, the queen.