Thieves broke into Zara Phillips’ car and stole her handbag — containing valuable jewellery.

The Queen’s grand-daughter was “close to tears” after finding her riding gear strewn over the road beside her damaged Range Rover.

The jewellery plus cash were missing when the bag was recovered from a hedge — but her passport was still inside. A source said: “Zara was shaken by the incident and was frantically searching for her handbag.

“Police told her later that it was an opportunistic crime — but there is always a moment of fear that she has targeted.”

The theft — in Kensington, West London, on Thursday while equestrian world champion Zara, 27, shopped nearby — comes just one month after Princess Beatrice’s BMW was nicked.

The Met last night confirmed Zara’s theft and revealed a member of the public handed in the bag. He added: “There are no security implications.” (via The Sun)

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World eventing champion Zara Phillips’ horse had to be destroyed after a cross-country fall at the final event of the year in Pau, France, yesterday.

Phillips suffered a broken collarbone, but she did not go to hospital. Having been treated on site by the event’s medical team, she was later walking around, in some discomfort, with her arm in a sling.

The accident happened halfway around the course at fence 15, a hedge and one of the most innocuous-looking fences, where no other rider had problems.

Phillips’ horse, Tsunami II, stumbled on landing and somersaulted, throwing the rider clear. A veterinary examination showed that the 11-year-old chestnut mare had broken a neck vertebra.

“She was a very special horse and I had high hopes for her,” said Phillips. “Losing a horse like this is awful. I feel so sorry for Mel because she bred him.”

Read entire article at The Telegraph

Zara Phillips may have narrowly missed out on the Olympic Games – but she is still a winner.

Just two days before Beijing 2008 begins, she has been voted the British sportswoman who best combines achievement and glamour.

Athletes who will compete in the Games are not far behind, with cyclist Victoria Pendleton and heptathlete Kelly Sotherton claiming spots two and five respectively. Gold-winning legends Kelly Holmes and Denise Lewis take positions three and four.

Celebrity personal trainer Nicki Waterman, who oversaw the poll, said: “Between them the top five have won a host of honours, including three Olympic golds, three Olympic bronzes and two BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, and have done so while always looking their best.”

Zara, 27, was forced to withdraw from the Olympics after her horse, Toytown, was injured during training. (via Daily Express)

Zara Phillips has agreed to appear in this autumn’s series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, in a move that is likely to infuriate traditionalists in royal circles.

Miss Phillips, who is granddaughter to the Queen and 12th in line to the throne, has signed an early stage agreement to appear in ballroom dancing contest, to the delight of BBC bosses.

However a source close to Miss Phillips indicated that her involvement with the show may not go down well with everyone in the Royal Family. The source told Sunday Mirror: The Queen may have something to say about Zara appearing on a live TV show every Saturday. Many in royal circles will find it inappropriate.”

But the BBC hope Miss Phillips will boost viewing figures as they go head-to-head with ITV’s popular Saturday night reality contest, The X Factor.

Read the entire story at The Telegraph…