Zara Tindall exuded pure joy as she secured her first significant championship win in almost two decades.
The Princess Royal’s daughter gleefully celebrated her victory at the prestigious Hartpury International Horse Trials and British Championships, sharing a triumphant moment with her horse after a stellar performance.
At 45, Zara rode her dependable 17-year-old steed, Class Affair, to triumph, walking away with a rewarding £5,000 prize.
However, this memorable success was a solitary affair, as no family members were present to cheer on the royal equestrian from the sidelines.
An observer shared with HELLO! that Zara appeared to be having an exhilarating time, even letting out an enthusiastic “Whee” as she mastered each jump.
They said: ‘Zara was in a crazy mood, she seemed super happy, smiling as she jumped over the jumps, even going ‘Whee’, she was smiling and beaming, kissing the horse.’
Speaking about her achievement, the onlooker added: ‘She’s taken this horse, who is on the downward trend, and taken him to glory in the British Open championships.’
The victory marks Zara’s first major championship title since she helped Britain claim team gold at the European Eventing Championships in 2007.
Zara Tindall beamed and jumped for joy as she claimed her first major championship title in nearly 20 years
The Princess Royal’s daughter was pictured celebrating and kissing her horse after riding to victory at the Hartpury International Horse Trials and British Championships today
Zara Tindall competes on ‘Class Affair’ in the Hartpury International Horse Trials and the British Championships, at Hartpury College, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, UK, on the 15th August 2026
Speaking about her achievement, an onlooker said: ‘She’s taken this horse, who is on the downward trend, and taken him to glory in the British Open championships’
Her last major individual title came a year earlier when she won gold at the 2006 World Equestrian Games aboard Toytown, the horse she also rode at the 2007 European Championships.
Earlier this week Zara, Queen Mary of Denmark and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands joined a plethora of glamorous royals at a prestigious equestrian event in Germany.
The European royals were accompanied by the daughter of Princess Anne for the opening gala of the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, two decades after Zara claimed a gold medal at the same venue in 2006.
More than 800 athletes and horses compete for world titles at the event which takes place every four years and covers six different categories: Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Para Dressage, Driving and Vaulting.
Taking a short break from the Royal Family’s annual summer holiday, Zara, 45, opted for a tux jumpsuit in the shade Noir from fashion brand Frame, which she paired with Finlay and Co’s Tavistock champagne sunglasses, which retail for £160.
Catharina-Amalia, 22, meanwhile, exuded sophistication in a £214 striped dress from Spanish label Nina Blanc. Paired with Elie Saab’s Petit Wave Bag in Emerald, the princess tied the look together with a pair of Gianvito 105 Green Leaf Suede Pumps.
Eagle-eyed royal fans also noted that the Princess of Orange proudly displayed her arm scar that she obtained after undergoing surgery last year after she was thrown off her horse.
It drew comparisons to Princess Eugenie, who also has a long scar on her back from a procedure she had aged 12 to help treat her scoliosis – and was intentionally visible on her wedding day in 2018.
Catharina-Amalia had also proudly showed the mark as she officially opened the championships – a profound recognition of her marked love for the sport and confidence, in spite of the accident.