Zara Tindall's natural beauty shone through as she went completely makeup-free for the MARS Badminton Horse Trials today. The King's niece, 44, sported a casual look as she arrived at the South Gloucestershire racecourse for the annual five-day event that kicked off yesterday.
The former Olympian traded in her designer dresses for a much more practical look, including a pair of sturdy denim jeans and a black windbreaker, for the dressage. She completed her outfit with a camouflage-inspired cap from the American outdoor apparel brand Yeti as Zara pulled her short blonde tresses back into a fuss-free ponytail.
Princess Anne's daughter was very animated as she addressed the attendees at the Badminton Horse Trials, known to be 'one of the toughest and most exciting equestrian events – the pinnacle of the worldwide horse trials calendar'. For four days, competitors are tested on a myriad of disciplines, including dressage, a cross-country course and show jumps.
It comes after Zara earned the 'Armada Dish' last season, with the flat trophy usually awarded for having completed the trials five times. She was presented with the trophy by The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort just as it started to rain.
Last month, Zara competed in the Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials, in Norfolk, as she appeared right at home in her jodhpurs and riding boots. The silver Olympic medalist was grinning ear-to-ear while riding her Grey Gelding horse, Classicals Euro Star, fondly known as Casper. She was later spotted out and about at the event, walking what appeared to be the latest addition to the Tindall household: a small black working Cocker Spaniel.
The family already have black Labradors Storm and Pepper, who are mother and daughter, and Blink, a boxer. Fans speculated the 'adorable' puppy may have been a gift from the Prince and Princess of Wales, with one person writing: 'I'm convinced it might be one of the puppies from William and Catherine's dog, Orla.'
Zara appeared happy to be back on horseback after she was spotted at the Grand National's Ladies Day earlier this month with her husband Mike Tindall and their 12-year-old daughter Mia. Smiling, gasping, frowning - and sometimes even passionately pointing at the tracks - Mia was in full fan mode amid the festivities at the Grand National, channelling her notoriously 'cheeky' cousin Prince Louis, who is just as known for his antics. In one instance, Zara jokingly frowned at her mini-me daughter's theatrics, as the pair shared a playful moment.
One-half of the sportiest royal couple, Zara also made a brief cameo in husband Mike's video to promote a charity ski holiday in Austria. In a clip posted on Instagram, Mike, 47, revealed he will be heading to Obergurgl for Mikey's Mountain Miles next January to raise funds for spinal cord research non-profit Wings For Life. The former England rugby union player said the itinerary for the skiing trip 'includes a lederhosen and dirndls' party as footage showed Princess Anne's daughter in a traditional Bavarian dress. The outfit consisted of a tight bodice worn over a blouse, skirt, and patterned apron and the mother-of-three, 44, tied her blonde tresses into plaits. In the short clip, she could be seen yodelling alongside a man playing the accordion, as Mike said the 'Austrian night always leads to many laughs' while sharing the couple's best memories from their past trips.
The couple, who are not working royals, were pictured during a wild night out in Texas as they rode a mechanical bull during a visit to the 'world's largest honky tonk'. A photo shared by singer John Osborne on Instagram showed the Tindalls partying at famous country music club Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. In a departure from her royal style, Zara donned a casual outfit, including a classic white T-shirt, dark denim jeans and a black cowboy hat, that screamed 'countrycore'. The jet-setting royals rang in the new year with their annual trip to Australia for the polo and showjumping Magic Millions event.
