Zara Tindall makes emotional ‘gone downhill’ comment in rare appearance with Princess Anne
Zara Tindall and Princess Anne both share a passion for all things equestrian, and both recently made a rare appearance together at a conference about horse welfare
Zara Tindall and Princess Anne recently made a rare public appearance together(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Zara Tindall said “it’s gone downhill” as she made a rare appearance with Princess Anne. The 44-year-old and her mother both share a passion for all things equestrian.
Anne, 75, took part in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, representing Great Britain in the three-day event. Zara meanwhile won the Olympic silver medal with the team eventing in London 2012 and came eighth in the individual competition.
It was their shared passion for horses that led to a rare joint appearance at the World Horse Welfare Annual Conference at the Royal Geographical Society in London last week. It was there that Zara urged attendees to see the world “through the horse’s eyes”.
As a patron of the World Horse Welfare charity, Zara also took the time to speak out about how politics has had an impact on animals. King Charles’ niece conceded that it is now “more stressful” to take a horse abroad post-Brexit, reports Tatler.
She said: “If we’re talking about legislation and how we have gone back in time, sort of post-Brexit, our travel time for horses and their welfare has definitely gone downhill.”
Anne and Zara share a passion for horses
Zara added: “I know people are doing it less and less now because it’s such hard work. It’s more stressful on the horses than it used to be. It’s got worse.”
Traditionally members of the Royal Family aim to remain apolitical to “support the monarch”. Previously, constitutional expert Alastair Bruce told the Mirror: “All members of the Royal Family, other than the sovereign, may vote. Traditionally, they do not.
“This is principally to protect the apolitical nature of their support to the monarch but also because, in the past, as royal dukes, many male members of the family were prevented by law from voting because they could sit as peers in the House of Lords.”
Zara took part in the 2012 Olympics(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
He added: “When the Royal Family agreed to withdraw from exercising their rights to sit and speak in the House of Lords in 1999, it technically lifted the bar to vote in elections.”
Zara however is considered a ‘non-working royal’ and doesn’t have to follow the conventions of the Firm. Her husband Mike Tindall, a former England rugby player, spoke out against politicians during his time on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2022.
He branded politicians “f*****s” as former Health Secretary Matt Hancock entered the jungle. It prompted commentator Michael Cole to tell Good Morning Britain that “the Royal Family and politics do not mix”.
Zara and Mike married in 2011 and have three children together – Mia, Lena and Lucas. Zara has previously spoken about the “mum guilt” she felt getting back into shape after welcoming her children.
She said: “I found it hard to get back to it. Mentally, you feel guilty leaving your child to do something else.”
