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Zara Tindall reveals Mark Phillips's tough parenting
8 Oct
Summary
- Zara Tindall spoke about her father's critical and tough parenting style.
- Her mother, Princess Anne, had a more relaxed approach to raising children.
- Zara's competitive children sometimes roll their eyes at her instructions.
Equestrian Zara Tindall reflected on her childhood in a recent podcast, detailing the contrasting parenting styles of her mother, Princess Anne, and father, Captain Mark Phillips. Tindall described her father as "quite critical" and a "tough coach," noting that positive comments from him were rare. Princess Anne, however, was "very relaxed," allowing her children to navigate their activities with less direct supervision.
This distinct approach apparently proved effective, contributing to Zara's notable equestrian achievements, including major competition wins and Olympic accolades. Zara is now raising her own three children, Mia, Lena, and Lucas, with husband Mike Tindall. She humorously recounted an instance where her daughter Mia reacted with an eye-roll to instructions, a behavior Zara suspects she herself exhibited towards her parents.
Captain Mark Phillips, Princess Anne's ex-husband, has made recent public appearances, notably attending their son Peter Phillips's second wedding in the Cotswolds. He was accompanied by his rumoured girlfriend, Florence Standaert. Phillips and Princess Anne, who divorced in 1992, maintain amicable relations, often meeting at equestrian events.
