Royal family enjoy races at Cheltenham as Zara Tindall's girls steal the show

01 January 2024 , 17:47

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Mia Tindall showcased her love of horse racing (Image: James Whatling)

Little Mia Tindall stole the show today as she and fellow royals attended the races at Cheltenham.

The nine-year-old royal was pictured animated as she looked fascinated by the happenings on the track at the New Year's Day special. The eldest daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall joined cousins Savannah and Isla Phillips for the festive outing.

Photos show Mia, whose mum is herself an equestrian having won silver for Team GB at the London Olympic Games in 2012, engaged in the atmosphere on the balcony. One picture captures the youngster concentrate intensely as she holds a slip in her left hand and a glass of water in the other.

But another image shows Mia chuck her ticket over the balcony - perhaps expressing her frustration at the results at the event, where there were seven races today. During which, Savannah and Isla, aged 13 and 11 respectively, were also pictured beaming on the balcony.

Mia looked animated as she watched the happenings on the track (David Hartley)

Zara Tindall's daughter frowned with a racing slip in her hand (James Whatling)

The outing comes after the family spent Christmas at Sandringham and attended St Mary Magdalene Church for the annual service - during which Mia took centre stage. She held hands with Prince Louis, five, as they led the royals on their traditional Christmas Day walk to the church. Prince George and Princess Charlotte also took to the front of the procession to guide the way.

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Mia's sister Lena, five, walked behind the Wales' holding hands with her parents Zara and Mike. Her younger brother Lucas, two, stayed at home. Holding hands with her mother, Princess Charlotte looked festive in a bottle green coat with her hair tied back into plaits.

Once the Christmas morning service had concluded, Mia walked out of the church flanked by Princess Charlotte, and the pair giggled together as they strolled with their families.

Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips also attended the New Year's Day meeting in Gloucestershire (David Hartley)

But Mia's apparent interest in horse racing comes from both her parents, particularly 42-year-old Zara, who was voted 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year by the public following her triumph at the Eventing World Championship in Aachen, Germany, that year. In 2012, Zara carried an Olympic flame at Cheltenham Racecourse on her horse Toytown.

Her mum, Anne, Princess Royal, went back to Aachen on royal duty last year, to deliver a speech - in German - at the opening ceremony at the world's largest horse show. She impressed with her fluent German and gave a nod to Zara in the speech, describing the moment she watched her daughter in the 2006 competition as a "tense situation".

Bradley Jolly