British Royal Wedding

Zara Phillips has given her biggest hint yet that she wants to marry the England rugby player Mike Tindall.

The Queen’s granddaughter said that the pair exchanged vows of love every day, adding that she was waiting for Tindall to pop the question.

“I’m old-fashioned. I think they should ask you,” she said. “Everyone at the [Gloucester] rugby club seems to be getting married and having babies so they keep asking me, ‘What about you?’ We tell each other we love each other every day.”

Asked in an interview for GQ Sport magazine if she thought she had sown her wild oats she said: “Yes – I think I have . . . ”

Ahead of her appearance at the Badminton Horse Trials this Thursday, Ms Phillips also said in the interview that she preferred being known as a horse rider rather than as a royal.

When asked if she would have done anything differently in her life if she were not a member of the Royal Family, she replied: “Yes . . . because I could have got away with more things. So it’s probably a good thing I am.”

She also praised her family members, adding that she and her brother Peter had been brought up “quite normally”. She added: “I think it’s better to be known as a horse rider than a royal. They are my family but it’s nice to be known for something else.” (via Times Online)

England rugby star Mike Tindall, the boyfriend of the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, has been arrested for drink-driving.

Police said they arrested a 29-year-old Gloucestershire man on the M4 near Newbury in Berkshire on Saturday morning - the day after the Cheltenham Racing Festival.

The man was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and released on bail to return to a police station on April 29. Police would not confirm that it was Tindall who was arrested.

The player was seen the night before, drinking with Ms Phillips at a private party at Cheltenham, the Sun newspaper reported today.

He was not in the team for England’s Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday afternoon after suffering a serious liver injury during his team’s clash with Grand Slam winners Wales.

He had been due to be a TV commentator at Twickenham and was thought to have been on his way there when he was stopped, the British Press Association reported.

A spokesman for his club, Gloucester Rugby, said: “We are aware of a police incident involving Mike Tindall on Saturday. Until the full facts have been established neither the player or the club will be making any further comment at this time.”

Zara Phillips made an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival event today ahead of the Queen Mother champion chase hoping to turning heads.

Instead, it seemed the royal was taking fashion tips from a German oompah player as she appeared dressed in a pointy black trilby hat. She was joined by her boyfriend, England rugby player Mike Tindall, who is recovering after he bruised his liver in a horror fall while playing for England against Wales in February.

Zara said his injury was “quite worrying at the time”, adding: “All the doctors have made the point that it might have been a slightly different story if he had not been an extremely fit professional sportsman whose body was able to deal with injury so well.”

Tindall, who has resumed light training, hopes to make a full recovery by next month.

The Queen’s granddaughter has been eagerly awaiting the Cheltenham Festival and says she “can’t wait” for tomorrow’s Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star and Denman.

Of course, Zara also has her eyes set on her own riding success. Zara, who is also part of a longer programme aimed for London in 2012, added: “I love riding for my country.”

She appeared to be in high spirits as she made her way through the crowds today and has revealed she is now at ease being in the spotlight.

“I’m happier with being in the public eye now I’ve achieved something, rather than just for being born.” (via Daily Mail)

Her grandmother favours diamonds and pearls for official portraits. Zara Phillips, however, went for something different.

And her choice of a tight black jumper and trousers and incredibly vampish heels went down well with popular artist Jack Vettriano.

“She looked exceptionally sexy,” the Scottish painter said yesterday, adding jokingly: “Is it treason to say that?”

The Queen’s 26-year-old granddaughter - who won gold at the world eventing championships and is training with her horse, Toytown, for the Beijing Olympics - agreed to pose for her first official portrait on behalf of Sport Relief.

Vettriano, whose paintings sell for more than £700,000, was equally keen to paint the 12th in line to the throne to raise funds for the charity’s appeal.

“I don’t really do portraits so I told them I would only do it if Zara Phillips agreed,” he said. “To be honest, I never thought she would say yes. I love the way she is lying with the Union Jack draped beneath her. I think it is a very sexy and powerful image.”

The 20in by 24in oil on canvas will be auctioned later this year. (via Daily Mail)

Zara Phillips has told how she and boyfriend Mike Tindall are more like telly’s Royale Family then her own…as they love to slob out in front of the box.

The Queen’s granddaughter, 12th in line to the throne, said: “We normally stay at home in the evening during the week. We watch telly and just chill out.

“I like CSI and Spooks - and I love Strictly Come Dancing.” Zara, 26, also told British Airways’ mag Business Life that England rugby ace Mike, 29, enjoys playing computer games, adding: “It can be annoying when you’re watching TV.”

But the bulk of each week for the Eventing World Champion is taken up with mucking out her horses and training for a place in this year’s Olympics.

The equestrian gold-medal hopeful revealed: “I’m happier with being in the public eye now I’ve achieved something, rather than just for being born. It’s nicer to be known for being successful.” (via Daily Mirror)

Zara Phillips has signed a £100,000 deal to become the new face of luxury watchmaker Rolex.

The first advert to feature the Queen’s granddaughter, in American fashion magazine Vanity Fair, shows her with Toytown, the horse on which she became world eventing champion in 2006.

Despite accusations of cashing in on her Royal status when she promoted Land Rover two years ago, as part of this deal Zara, 26, received three of the Swiss firm’s high-class watches, including the £6,000 Oyster Perpetual Lady-Date just shown in the advert.

Britain’s Zara Phillips’ rugby star boyfriend Mike Tindall is happy to be a “house husband”.

The former England rugby player – who met Zara during the semi-final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia – insists he would happily “stay at home with the kids” to allow Zara to continue her equestrian career.

He said: “I would happily not work, learn to cook and stay at home with the kids. As a champion showjumper Zara can go on for longer than I can. Why shouldn’t I stay at home?”

Mike, 29, also gushed he would love Zara – the daughter of Princess Anne and ex-husband Mark Phillips – even if she was a checkout girl and revealed they are both desperate to settle down and start a family.

He said: “I do believe in fate. If I hadn’t been dropped from the England team, I would never have met Zara. I am head over heels in love. Zara is the love of my life, no doubt.

“I would love her if she worked behind a checkout at Tescos. She just happens to be a princess.

“We want children but haven’t set a date yet. In an ideal world, you would want to get married first. I am a traditional man, but I will be a good dad. I will get stuck in, get up in the middle of the night and change nappies. I love children.”

The Gloucester rugby star, who lives with the 26-year-old princess on the Princess Royal’s Gloucestershire estate, also dismissed rumours Zara’s father does not approve of their relationship.

Mike said: “We are very good friends. We are spending Christmas at his house.

“The royals make it easy for me by being so normal. They are a very close family, no different from any other.” (via Cheers)

Britain’s Zara Phillips caused a stir at a charity ball by showing off her ample bosom in a very low-cut dress on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old royal accessorised her figure-hugging blue Robert Cavalli dress with a cowboy hat and boots for the Red Cross Ball at London’s The Room By The River venue.

Zara was accompanied to the Honky Tonk Blues themed bash by her rugby star fiancé Mike Tindall, who donned a western bootlace tie, jacket and black hat for the event.

While the royal may have drawn some disapproving looks for her risqué dress, Mike, 29, did not seem to have any complaints, and the pair openly kissed and canoodled at their table.

A source said: “They couldn’t keep their hands off each other and they didn’t care who saw. Mike looked very proud to have such a good-looking woman on his arm.”

Other guests at the ball included Girls Aloud singers Kimberley Walsh and Cheryl Cole and actress Joan Collins.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed Zara will receive her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at London’s Buckingham Palace next Wednesday.

The sports star - who was voted the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year - will be presented with the honour for her services to equestrianism after she won both the European and world eventing titles last year. (via Daily Star)

Interview with English Rugby star, Mike Tindall

“I won’t lie, my girlfriend Zara (three-day event rider Zara Phillips) does all the cooking in the house. She’s an awesome cook. She doesn’t have a speciality, she’s very good generally and can do a lot of fancy stuff. She does lamb cutlets with a pea-minty-mushroomy thingy which is nice. She does steak in bean and tomato, which is difficult to describe but is very good.

I am very aware of what I eat. All week I’m preparing for a game and very careful but at the weekend I’m more relaxed. It’s all about balance… The night before a match I’ll have a really big, carb-heavy meal. I always have lasagne. I love lasagne. My mum got me into it but Zara’s is equally good. I definitely wouldn’t say one is better than the other, I know better than to compare the two…”
(via Guardian Unlimited)

Prince Harry was dubbed the “official Royal gooseberry” in front of family and friends – by his brother William.

Lovelorn Harry, who is trying to win back girlfriend Chelsy Davy, was the only one without a partner at a birthday bash for his cousin Peter Phillips.

Wills, 25, was joined by Kate Middleton, Peter by fiancée Autumn Kelly, Zara Phillips by rugby hunk Mike Tindall, and Princess Beatrice by Virgin hotshot Dave Clark. But Harry, 23, couldn’t persuade Zimbabwean Chelsy to attend the party on Saturday.

A source said: “Halfway through the evening William turned to Harry and said, ‘You’re now the official Royal gooseberry. The whole group fell about laughing, except Harry who gave his brother a dirty look before smiling.”
After the meal at trendy Cocoon restaurant in Regent Street, London, most of the Royals went to the posh Volstead club in Mayfair, while Beatrice and Dave joined a host of stars at actress Davinia Taylor’s birthday bash.

A witness said: “They looked happy. Everyone was with their partner, except Harry.”

Chelsy, 22, who is studying at Leeds University, had been in London since Thursday. She is still miffed at Harry for spending her birthday watching rugby. The source said: “Harry’s not out of the woods yet.” (via The Sun)