Page 13 - Woman's Weekly - New Zealand (January 2020)

ZARA & MIKE’S
PLACE
competing – that would be
a little bit hard commuting.
But after that… yes, I think
if an opportunity came up
we’d definitely think about
it,” the 38-year-old says.
Zara and Mike now refer
to Australia as their “second
home” after travelling to the
country every January since
2012 for Zara’s duties as an
ambassador and patron for the
Magic Millions polo tournament.
The laid-back Antipodean
way of life – plus the sun and
surf – are massive pulls for the
Tindalls. While the pair are part
of the royal family, they have
no official duties thanks to
Zara’s lack of title, which leaves did attend the Queen’s annual
her much freer than cousins
princes William and Harry to
make her own life decisions.
“Early January is bleak over
here [in England], so it’s nice to crackers on the table.
be able to go and have a bit of
sun,” Mike says. “I love the
lifestyle of Australia and the
ability to get up early and go
Princess Anne (below, in 1976
with Prince Philip) and former
husband Mark (below right, in
1972) passed their passion for
horses down to Zara, who is
passing it on to Mia (left).
to the beach –
especially for the kids.”
Zara and Mike travelled to
Australia just after Christmas
– which they reportedly spent
with Mike’s family, rather than
attend the royals’ traditional
gathering at Sandringham –
with Mike enthusiastically
sharing pictures of their holiday accumulated
on Instagram, including
Sydney’s famed New Year’s
Eve fireworks display.
“Sydney isn’t a bad way to
see in the New Year!” Mike
posted – later showing off
his dancing skills
They may not have been at
Sandringham but Zara and Mike
Christmas lunch, with Mike
sharing previously unknown
facts about the day, including
that there were no Christmas
“The family lunch, there must
have been about 70 of us –
there are seven tables and the
kiddies have their own little one with Mark winning Olympic
in a different room. I was on
Prince Charles’ table. It was
lovely, really good.”
However, the start to the new
year wasn’t entirely smooth
for Zara, with Will they or
the royal won’t they? Zara
and Mike hit the
banned from beach on the
driving for six Gold Coast with
months after Lena (above) and
Mia (right). An
being caught Aussie lifestyle
speeding. She is one they’d
love to embrace.
too many points
on her licence and was handed what I love about being part of
an automatic ban. the sport. Everyone has bad
Still, Zara and Mike (41) are days and everyone has good
said to be favourites of the days. It’s really humbling.
Queen thanks to their low- “At the end of the day, we
aintenance approach to life. all do it because of our love of
But Zara admits that 2020 for horses and competition; trying
her family will be a busy one, to get to the top, trying to be
as she hustles to make it on to at the top. But that partnership
Great Britain’s Olympic eventing you have with the horse is the
team for the Tokyo Games main reason.”
later this year. And it’s a passion that looks
Her passion for horses and to have continued into the next
riding is well known. Both of generation, with both Mia and
her parents − Anne, Princess Lena showing signs they love
Royal and Captain Mark Phillips being around horses.
– also represented their country, “Mia does like horses,” her
proud mum says.
gold in Munich in 1972. “She rides a bit, and they’ve
"Working with horses, both been on ponies. But,
especially, is not easy,” she tells. again, it’s more about giving
“Everyone has to work as hard them that experience and that
as the next person. So that's relationship. The experience
that we had when we were
young − being with an animal,
learning how to treat an
animal, learning how to look
after an animal. All those
things that are great for
them as they’re growing up.
Being outside, too.
“All those life skills.” #
Vivienne Archer