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Zara
Phillips has followed in her mother's footsteps in her love of horses
- she also appears to have inherited something of her mother's occasionally
rebellious nature.
She
was born on May 15, 1981, at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington and
christened Zara Anne Elizabeth at a service conducted in the Chapel
at Windsor Castle by the Dean of Windsor on 27 July 1981.
Her
unusual name (it is Greek in origin and means 'bright as the dawn')
was chosen by Prince Charles.
In
a family where tradition usually takes precedence over personal
choices her out-of-the-ordinary name - and the fact that her mother
wanted neither Zara or her brother Peter to be a Prince or Princess
- set the trend for a young royal who has been determined to make
her own way in life.
After
spending most of her early life at the family home, Gatcombe Park
near Minchinhampton, Zara was educated at Scottish boarding school
Gordonstoun like her uncles and the Duke of Edinburgh.
She
spent time in Australia and New Zealand on a gap year after A levels
and later qualified at an equine physiotherapist at Exeter University.
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| Zara's
on-off relationship with Richard Johnson was definitely on at
the 2003 Cheltenham Festival |
Her
rebellious nature was revealed when photos taken at the 100th birthday
celebrations of her grandmother the Queen Mother showed her sporting
a tongue stud.
In
December 2000 she escaped serious injury after overturning her Land-Rover
near Bourton-on-the-Water.
Eyebrows
were further raised by her on-off romance with leading jump jockey
Richard Johnson.
She
moved into his north Cotswolds home and the couple sold an interview
and pictures to celebrity magazine Hello before the romance cooled
in 2002.
A keen
sportswoman, Zara has played hockey for Cheltenham Ladies' College,
but horses remain her first love.
Zara
enjoys hunting and three-day events and is a lively and enthusiastic
- not to mention extremely photogenic - president of Club 16-24,
which aims to attract more young racegoers to Cheltenham Racecourse.
She
says: "Club 16-24 enhances the incredible atmosphere of Cheltenham,
adding that little extra element of fun."
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| Zara
on her first royal engagement - a double ship-naming at Southampton |
Zara's
high-profile role at Cheltenham has certainly proved a headline-grabber
- her congratulatory kiss after Johnson won the Champion Hurdle
on Rooster Booster at the Cheltenham Festival in March dominated
the front page of The Sun, Britain's biggest selling daily newspaper.
In
May 2003 she performed her first official royal engagement at an
event unique in British shipping history.
Zara
and her mother the Princess Royal took part in the first UK double
ship-naming ceremony in Southampton, with the princess naming the
P&O Cruises liner Oceana and her daughter its sister ship Adonia.
In
June 2003 Zara announced her first sponsorship deal with Cantor
Index, a leading company in spread betting to help cover the costs
of her equestrian career.
Zara
is particularly close to her cousin Prince William, who is just
a year younger than her.
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