The Royal Family has experienced a noticeable reduction in active members, particularly following Prince Harry’s move to America and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s withdrawal from public duties in Norfolk. As Prince William prepares to ascend to the throne, it is expected he will seek trusted family support to manage various royal responsibilities.
One prominent candidate is his cousin Zara Tindall. Although she and her husband, former England rugby star Mike Tindall, have never pursued royal titles, Zara has earned respect through her distinguished involvement in equestrian activities—an area where the royal family has traditionally excelled in soft power influence.
During a recent visit to Australia supporting her role as Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador, Zara expressed her fondness for the country, saying, “We love coming here, it’s like a second home to us.” She regularly attends the Gold Coast Yearling Sale in Queensland, underscoring her deep connection to horsemanship.
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Royal commentator Emily Andrews recently suggested in Woman and Home magazine that under King William, Zara could be appointed patron of the Royal Stud at Sandringham as well as take on royal racing responsibilities at prestigious events like Cheltenham and Ascot. This idea gains traction given William’s relatively lesser enthusiasm for equestrian pursuits compared to his grandmother or father.
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond supports this notion, telling OK! magazine, “There will be so many demands on William’s time when he is King that I think it’s a brilliant idea—if the reports are true—that he might delegate racing matters to Zara. Like her mother, she lives and breathes horses, is extremely popular, and would be an excellent fit.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s legendary passion for horses was well known. She once described her bond with horses as a “lifelong love affair.” The Royal Stud at Sandringham, the oldest thoroughbred breeding center globally, was central to her equestrian pursuits. Over her lifetime, she bred racehorses achieving more than 530 victories from approximately 3,280 runners, a remarkable 16% success rate.
Prince Philip shared his wife’s equestrian enthusiasm, serving as President of the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) for 22 years and winning the World Championship gold medal in driving in 1980.
This equestrian legacy continues strongly in Zara. She won the individual eventing world championship at Aachen in 2006 and earned a team silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Her mother, Princess Anne—a former elite equestrian herself—presented her Olympic medal with pride.
While Prince William shares some equestrian interests, mainly through polo, he does not engage as deeply in horse riding as other family members. His busy schedule often limits his participation, although he is occasionally seen riding during ceremonial events like Trooping the Colour.
With her impressive pedigree and dedication to horse sports, Zara Tindall is well-positioned to uphold and advance the royal family’s equestrian tradition when William becomes King.