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Zara Phillips

Date with Kate

Date With Kate: Zara Phillips

25th January, 2015
Lunch with Zara Phillips

Lunch with Zara Phillips

The Queen’s granddaughter and equestrian, Zara Phillips, spent the festive season in Australia with her husband, rugby star Mike Tindall, and their one-year-old daughter, Mia. Phillips, 33, visited as part of her role as patron of the Magic Millions Racing Women. She chatted to me about motherhood, returning to the Olympics and the Queen’s great-grandmum duties.

What brought you to Australia?   
The Magic Millions race day, Katie Page-Harvey [its co-owner] and her initiative of women in racing: trying to get more women owing racehorses … and trying to get more women-owned syndicates.

You attend races all around the world, including Ascot. What is the biggest difference between horseracing in Britain compared to the Magic Millions?
It’s very relaxed here. Obviously, the heat is a very different thing, altogether. Wearing heels in this heat is definitely the hardest thing to do! But yes, it’s a very different atmosphere. It’s fun, it’s relaxed. It’s a very different style of racing, so it’s always interesting to go to the different tracks.

What have you been doing while in Australia?
I’ve been here a month. We came down for a friend’s wedding in December and then there was no point going home. So we spent Christmas and New Year’s here with just friends in Sydney. It has been really good because Mia is one, so being able to be out in the sun and go to the beach has been really good for her.

Last time we chatted you weren’t yet a mother. Are you enjoying motherhood?
I was really surprised, actually. I really enjoy it. I think the worst thing, when I was pregnant, was a lot of people would come and tell you the bad stories – and of course there are dramas, but it has been great. I’ve actually loved it. I think I’ve been very lucky. She’s been a good baby. She has just fitted in.

Zara with her husband Mike Tindall and their daughter Mia.

Zara with her husband Mike Tindall and their daughter Mia.

 

What has been the biggest change since becoming a mother?
The biggest change, when packing to go anywhere, is I always arrive everywhere with nothing – because I’ve always packed everything for her! [Laughs] I get her all organised and I pack for myself last minute and chuck everything in and then I arrive somewhere and I’m like, “I didn’t put anything in!”

Is Mike a hands-on dad?
Yes, he’s really good. He just retired the last season so it has been really good to have him around. I went back [to] riding. So it was a great help as well, with him being around a bit more, to be able to do that. He’s great. I totally trust him with her.

Is he good at changing nappies?
Yes, he’s very good at changing nappies.

And what about your grandma? Does she ever do babysitting duties?
No, no – she’s got four great grandkids now. So she just loves having the grandkids around [and] great grandkids around. She loves having family together.

Does she attend many playdates with Prince George and Mia?
Yes. Family time is very precious to her. So we’ll try and get everyone together and make sure that she sees everyone.

What is a typical day for you?
I get up and I sort Mia [out]. Then, if Mike is around, I might try and go and ride while she has a sleep and come back after. I’m very lucky because I’m essentially self-employed.  I can go and do some work, come back, so it’s very flexible. But [I] try and get some [equestrian] training in for myself.

Do you plan to compete in the Rio Olympics?
Hopefully. That’s the kind of next step. We’ve got European [events] this year – we’ve got to qualify. I’ll try and keep the four-legged person in one piece and see what happens.

Zara competing at the Olympics.

Zara competing at the Olympics.

 

When you come to Australia, do you get recognised everywhere you go?
Mike gets recognised before me, actually! Because he is taller and everyone recognises the bent nose [laughs]. And then they’ll like see him and then they’ll like look for me. It’s not too bad. It depends where you are, which is a little bit same at home.

Can you lead a pretty normal life back home?
Yes. We live the country so it’s much easier.

You are very approachable and grounded, but do people have a misconception about you and get intimidated by you being a royal?
Yes, I think so. I mean, I guess it’s different for me – I’m not doing official things the whole time. At the end of the day, everyone is a person. I’ve been lucky: my brother and I have been brought up without titles and had a very normal upbringing. That’s thanks to my mum and dad. So my parents hopefully did a good job.

Will you raise Mia in a similar way?
We’ll try, yeah. I guess now, it’s trying to do the same for your own child. It’s nice to kind of go back and remember what your parents were doing with you and what your childhood was like. I guess we had a great childhood with a lot of family and you want to try and do the same for them.

 

BITE SIZE

WE WENT TO Moët & Chandon VIP marquee, Gold Coast Turf Club.

WE ATE Crudo of kingfish with grapefruit, zest and pounded mint; Platter of oysters and prawns.

WE DRANK Moët & Chandon Champagne.

ZARA WORE a Vionnet dress, Christie Millinery hat, Oroton clutch, Jimmy Choo heels and Calleija jewellery.

I WORE a Camilla and Marc dress and Nerida Winter hat.

[See full look: What I Wore: Magic Millions]

Photography:  Gaye Gerard,

Date with Kate

Date with Kate: Zara Phillips

8th January, 2014
Morning tea with Zara Phillips. Photo: Grant Turner

Morning tea with Zara Phillips. Photo: Grant Turner


The 2014 Magic Millions carnival has begun! Zara Phillips was the ambassador last year and since then the Queen’s granddaughter has signed on to be the Patron of Magic Millions Racing Women for the next four years. Phillips is pregnant with her first child, so she wasn’t able to attend this year’s carnival but here is a flashback from our ‘Date with Kate’ chat last year….

Zara Phillips, British Olympic equestrian team silver medallist and the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, was on Queensland’s Gold Coast as ambassador of the Magic Millions Racing Women initiative. I caught up with the 31-year-old to chat about her upbringing, dealing with the paparazzi, and starting a family.

What was it like growing up in a royal family?

When I do interviews, I hate talking about my family a lot because they are my family and that’s all I can say. It’s the same as it was for anyone else – obviously, people don’t quite believe me. Yes, we were in the public eye but we are still a family and growing up is the same. We were very lucky in the way that we had great places to go and great opportunities and hopefully all of us have used them and learnt from them, but then again, it’s just family.

Do you have to deal with paparazzi everywhere you go in Britain?

No, I live in the country with the horses so I can get around at home, unless I’m going somewhere public or I’m with the family in London or doing stuff for sponsors – then there is media. But otherwise I’m lucky, I get left alone.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever read about yourself?

One of them was last time I was here, they said ”your royal thongness”, and everyone was like, ”Oh my God, she is wearing thongs!”, and I was like, ”Why is that so weird that I’m wearing thongs?” There have been loads [of strange things written] but most of the time it’s when people misquote you, it’s frustrating … The worst thing is, you know how people say ”today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s fish-and-chip paper”? It isn’t true any more, because it’s all on the web so it always comes back up.

Do people sometimes not recognise you and treat you differently once they realise who you are?

Sometimes. This week I went through customs and I had my riding boots with me, so I had to go through the system and they had to clean my boots and the lady looked at me and said, ”Oh I just realised who you are.” It’s quite nice when people don’t recognise you, and obviously it’s a good thing for me because then they are relaxed.

What made you agree to be involved in the Magic Millions?

It’s close to me; I love horses and I love racing. Plus, being in a hot country like Australia, it wasn’t hard to twist my arm!

Is your husband involved in horse racing?

Funny you should say that. My husband [rugby player Mike Tindall] and two other rugby boys and their trainer own this horse together. The reason is, we were all at the sales at Cheltenham races and they were at the table, drinking away, with horses coming and the last lot comes in – and he swears that he didn’t have too much alcohol in him – but it was the end of the night and he starts bidding for this horse and I was like, ”What is he doing?!” so now the four of them are involved. It’s a funny story, but that’s why I’m not taking him to the sales again, he’s dangerous!

What is an average day for you?

I get up and I’ve got seven eventers to ride and then I’ve got three pointers. I ride every day until they are done, doing fitness, jumping or dressage, so every day is different.

ZaraPhillips1

What was it like winning silver at the Olympics?

It was the best experience of my life … We would have loved to have taken the gold home, and we were really close. When the first result came out I was disappointed … but then when you get [the medal] around your neck, you think, ”This isn’t so bad!” You stop moaning and shut up [laughs].

Given Will and Kate are having a baby, are you planning on starting a family any time soon?

Yes, hopefully. I’m trying to see if we can plan it in … but the trouble is I have really good horses at the moment. It would be easier if I didn’t have any good ones, so you could kind of go, ”OK, flag this year.” We will see what happens.

What do you do for fun?

I watch my husband play rugby and I play hockey sometimes. Otherwise, I just stay at home and chill out, nothing special really. We are active all the time so when we are at home, we like to chill and be lazy.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Hopefully I will have done another Olympics. That is what I’ll aim for.

 

BITE SIZE

WE WENT TO Surfers Paradise foreshore, Gold Coast.

WE ATE Mini friands; Bircher muesli; smoked salmon roulade.

WE DRANK English Breakfast tea.

ZARA WORE R.M. Williams shirt, Country Road jeans and Calleija jewellery.

smh.com.au

Date with Kate

DATE WITH KATE: ZARA PHILLIPS

13th January, 2013
Dining with Zara Phillips

Dining with Zara Phillips

Zara Phillips, British Olympic equestrian team silver medallist and the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, was on Queensland’s Gold Coast as ambassador of the Magic Millions Racing Women initiative.I caught up with the 31-year-old to chat about her upbringing, dealing with the paparazzi, and starting a family.

What was it like growing up in a royal family?

When I do interviews, I hate talking about my family a lot because they are my family and that’s all I can say. It’s the same as it was for anyone else – obviously, people don’t quite believe me. Yes, we were in the public eye but we are still a family and growing up is the same. We were very lucky in the way that we had great places to go and great opportunities and hopefully all of us have used them and learnt from them, but then again, it’s just family.

Do you have to deal with paparazzi everywhere you go in Britain?

No, I live in the country with the horses so I can get around at home, unless I’m going somewhere public or I’m with the family in London or doing stuff for sponsors – then there is media. But otherwise I’m lucky, I get left alone.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever read about yourself?

One of them was last time I was here, they said ”your royal thongness”, and everyone was like, ”Oh my God, she is wearing thongs!”, and I was like, ”Why is that so weird that I’m wearing thongs?” There have been loads [of strange things written] but most of the time it’s when people misquote you, it’s frustrating … The worst thing is, you know how people say ”today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s fish-and-chip paper”? It isn’t true any more, because it’s all on the web so it always comes back up.

Do people sometimes not recognise you and treat you differently once they realise who you are?

Sometimes. This week I went through customs and I had my riding boots with me, so I had to go through the system and they had to clean my boots and the lady looked at me and said, ”Oh I just realised who you are.” It’s quite nice when people don’t recognise you, and obviously it’s a good thing for me because then they are relaxed.

What made you agree to be involved in the Magic Millions?

It’s close to me; I love horses and I love racing. Plus, being in a hot country like Australia, it wasn’t hard to twist my arm!

Is your husband involved in horse racing?

Funny you should say that. My husband [rugby player Mike Tindall] and two other rugby boys and their trainer own this horse together. The reason is, we were all at the sales at Cheltenham races and they were at the table, drinking away, with horses coming and the last lot comes in – and he swears that he didn’t have too much alcohol in him – but it was the end of the night and he starts bidding for this horse and I was like, ”What is he doing?!” so now the four of them are involved. It’s a funny story, but that’s why I’m not taking him to the sales again, he’s dangerous!

What is an average day for you?

I get up and I’ve got seven eventers to ride and then I’ve got three pointers. I ride every day until they are done, doing fitness, jumping or dressage, so every day is different.

What was it like winning silver at the Olympics?

It was the best experience of my life … We would have loved to have taken the gold home, and we were really close. When the first result came out I was disappointed … but then when you get [the medal] around your neck, you think, ”This isn’t so bad!” You stop moaning and shut up [laughs].

Given Will and Kate are having a baby, are you planning on starting a family any time soon?

Yes, hopefully. I’m trying to see if we can plan it in … but the trouble is I have really good horses at the moment. It would be easier if I didn’t have any good ones, so you could kind of go, ”OK, flag this year.” We will see what happens.

What do you do for fun?

I watch my husband play rugby and I play hockey sometimes. Otherwise, I just stay at home and chill out, nothing special really. We are active all the time so when we are at home, we like to chill and be lazy.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Hopefully I will have done another Olympics. That is what I’ll aim for.

BITE SIZE

WE WENT TO Surfers Paradise foreshore, Gold Coast.

WE ATE Mini friands; Bircher muesli; smoked salmon roulade.

WE DRANK English Breakfast tea.

ZARA WORE R.M. Williams shirt, Country Road jeans and Calleija jewellery.

smh.com.au