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On a typically brisk March day in 2013, Princess Anne's daughter Zara Tindle found herself in a rare heated exchange at one of the most prestigious events in the horse racing calendar - the Cheltenham Festival. Held annually in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the four-day festival draws huge crowds and is known as the highlight of the National Hunt jumping season.
Zara, now a mother of three, was snapped during the tense interaction wearing a dark purple bow hat and cream collared coat. Video footage captured the stylish royal pointing her finger emphatically at a host as she tried to make her way through the crowded enclosure. Her husband Mike Tindle, a former rugby star, appears somewhat amused by his wife's fiery temperament in the clip.
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After a brief but animated argument, Zara was allowed to continue on her way. She was soon photographed laughing and chatting cordially with Chanel McCoy, wife of legendary jockey Tony McCoy, seeming to have moved past the heated exchange.
Mike and Zara are long-time fixtures at the Cheltenham Festival, attending each year's festivities. At the 2014 meet, the couple were caught on camera sharing a kiss, clearly enjoying each other's company amid the thrills of horse racing. Their affectionate display underscored Cheltenham's status as a prime social event where Britain's elite intermingle.
Like her mother Princess Anne and paternal grandfather Prince Phillip, the 41-year-old Zara is a dedicated equestrian. She competed for Great Britain in eventing at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a silver medal. Her passion for horses was cultivated from a young age through riding lessons with her mother.
In 2020, Zara took on a managerial role at Cheltenham Racecourse, leveraging her expertise and connections within horse sports. She now splits time between her professional and family duties, often pictured at races and charitable events with Mike and their three children.
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While Zara and Mike do not carry official royal titles or publicly receive financial support from the Crown, they maintain an affluent lifestyle. Mike forged a successful 17-year career as a rugby star, playing for England's national team. He has since remained active in sports broadcasting and business ventures.
Zara parlayed her own achievements in eventing into sponsorships and appearances. Combined with Mike's sports earnings over decades, various reports estimate the family's joint net worth at around $4.3 million. They own a home in Gloucestershire and support themselves independently of the monarchy.
In August 2022, it was revealed that Zara had entered to compete at the prestigious Wellington International Horse Trials in Hampshire later that month. The multi-day equestrian competition directly overlaps with a special long weekend King Charles had planned to spend with family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Zara faces a choice between attending her first major international horse trial since giving birth in 2018, or forgoing the competition to join the King and other royals in the Scottish Highlands. As an internationally-ranked athlete still passionate about competition, she may elect to pursue her sporting ambitions over royal family time. Only time will tell how Zara decides to balance her commitments.
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One thing is clear - the Cheltenham Festival will likely remain one of Zara's annual highlights on the equestrian calendar. Nearly a decade on from her brief flash of temper there, the royal has long since cemented her reputation as a dedicated horsewoman and gracious fixture of the racing scene. Her rare outburst in 2013 only served to underscore how fiercely competitive Zara remains in pursuit of excellence, both in and out of the saddle.
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