Advertisement

Zara and Mike Tindall join royals for first day of Ascot

Watch: Mike Tindall loves looking after his son!

Zara and Mike Tindall have joined her uncle, Prince Charles, and her mother, Princess Anne, at day one of Royal Ascot in Berkshire.

The Queen is not expected to attend the annual race gathering until later in the week, but she has horses in races on many days and will likely be watching avidly from home.

Zara is an Olympian equestrian and shares a love of horses with her grandmother, the Queen, as well as Princess Anne.

She and husband Tindall welcomed their third child, a boy, earlier this year, and this is one of their first happy public events since baby Lucas's arrival.

They were both in attendance at the funeral of Prince Philip in April.

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Zara Tindall arrives with husband Mike on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. A total of twelve thousand racegoers made up of owners and the public are permitted to attend the meeting due to it being an Events Research Programme (ERP) set up by the Government due to the Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Zara Tindall arrives with husband Mike on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Charles and Camilla presented the winner's trophy in the St James's Palace stakes. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Tindall revealed details of the birth of their son on his podcast, The Good, the Bad, and the Rugby, telling his co-hosts that Zara gave birth on their bathroom floor.

The royal was spotted out in May at the Cirencester Park International Horse Trials with baby Lucas in a pram.

But she has kept a low-profile since the birth of her first son.

The sport-loving couple celebrated Cheltenham Races back in March at home, as the event had to take place behind closed doors.

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Zara Tindall arrives with husband Mike on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. A total of twelve thousand racegoers made up of owners and the public are permitted to attend the meeting due to it being an Events Research Programme (ERP) set up by the Government due to the Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Zara and Mike are sports lovers and regularly attend racing events. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Zara Tindall arrives with husband Mike on day one of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. A total of twelve thousand racegoers made up of owners and the public are permitted to attend the meeting due to it being an Events Research Programme (ERP) set up by the Government due to the Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Zara and Mike are two of 12,000 racegoers made up of owners and the public who are permitted to attend the meeting due to it being an Events Research Programme (ERP) set up by the Government due to the Coronavirus pandemic. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge reveals they're keeping chickens as pets – which they hatched from eggs

But former rugby player Tindall looked pleased to be back at an in-person event on Tuesday, as he and Zara made up some of the 12,000 racegoers allowed at the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire.

Also there from the royal contingent were Prince Charles and Camilla, Zara's mother Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex.

The royals would usually arrive by horse drawn carriage, but this year, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were driven in by car.

The duchess wore a cream shift dress with a blue ribbon effect coat by Bruce Oldfield, with a matching face covering.

Her hat is by Philip Treacy, a milliner used regularly by members of the Royal Family.

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Prince Charles at Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attends Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Camilla donned a matching face covering with her blue and white ensemble. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge says COVID made her value family connections even more

The Queen has stayed away for day one of Ascot, usually a favourite event in her annual calendar, but is believed to be keen to attend later in the week.

John Warren, her racing manager, told Radio 4: "It’s remarkable.

"The Queen’s energy levels are incredible.

"She’s 95.

"She went down to the G7 this week, and trundled back on the train in the middle of the night and the energy will be raised higher again for a week like Ascot."

Zara Tindall (left), Dolly Maude and Anna Lisa Balding (right) react as they watch the King's Stand Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Tuesday June 15, 2021.
Zara Tindall (left), Dolly Maude and Anna Lisa Balding (right) react as they watch the King's Stand Stakes, which the Queen had a runner in. (PA images)
The Princess Royal (right) speaks to Zara Tindall ahead of the King's Stand Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot. (PA image)
The Princess Royal (right) speaks to Zara Tindall ahead of the King's Stand Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot. (PA image)
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Earl of Wessex ahead of the St James's Palace Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Tuesday June 15, 2021.
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Earl of Wessex ahead of the St James's Palace Stakes. (PA Images)

He added: "Obviously the Queen would love to attend, as you know she’s fanatic about racing, watching racing and breeding horses, and has been going to Ascot all of her adult life.

"So, it’s a shame to miss an event.

"The plan at the moment is to see how it goes towards the latter part of the week and if the Queen’s able to come because she’s got runners, then, fingers crossed, it will happen."

She had a runner, King’s Lynn, in the 15.40 King’s Stand Stakes. He came seventh.

ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 15: Princess Anne, Princess Royal arrives for Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2021 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Princess Anne, Princess Royal in blue on the first day of Royal Ascot. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Duchess of Cornwall alongside the Prince of Wales in the Royal Box on day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Tuesday June 15, 2021.
The Duchess of Cornwall alongside the Prince of Wales in the Royal Box on day one of Royal Ascot. (PA Images)
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the Royal Box on day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. Picture date: Tuesday June 15, 2021.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the Royal Box. (PA images)

Read more: Royal Ascot style guide encourages second-hand clothing: We'd love to see the royals re-wear these outfits

But instead of a day at the races, she carried out her first in-person audience for more than a year as she hosted Australian prime minister Scott Morrison in the Oak Room of Windsor Castle.

She has been holding them virtually, with ambassadors and attendees appearing via video link from Buckingham Palace.

However following her tea with Joe Biden at Windsor on Sunday, Morrison became the first head of state to attend an in-person audience since March 2020.

The Queen's daughter-in-law, Camilla, also revealed the monarch's love of the sport in more depth in an interview with ITV.

She said: "Well I think this is her passion in life and she loves it, and you can tell how much she loves it.

"She could tell you every horse she’s bred and owned from the very beginning – she doesn’t forget anything. I can hardly remember what I bred a year ago but she’s encyclopaedic about her knowledge."

Royal Ascot takes place over five days, beginning on Tuesday.